Donald Trump cancels North Carolina rally as storm approaches

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump abruptly canceled a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday due to an approaching storm, telling the crowd he was “shocked” and pledging to return to the battleground state soon.

About 30 minutes before arriving at the Wilmington airport, Trump called an outdoor rally from his private jet and directed everyone to leave immediately for safety as lightning flashed overhead.

“I’m shocked that this could happen, but we want to keep everyone safe,” Trump said, his voice amplified through loudspeakers to thousands of supporters, many of whom had been in the hot and humid weather since early morning. Queuing in the environment.

“… I think we’re just going to have to do another rain check. I’m sad,” Trump said.

The event was scheduled to take place during the first week of Trump’s historic criminal trial in New York over hush money payments to porn stars. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday after jury selection is completed.

Trump, who will face Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, also faces criminal cases in Washington, Georgia and Florida, but the New York case is the only one set to go to trial this year.

Both the Biden and Trump campaigns have their sights set on winning North Carolina, one of six or seven battleground states that could decide the outcome of the November election. Trump narrowly won the state over Biden in 2020.