WILMINGTON, N.C. — Former President Donald Trump canceled a rally in North Carolina at the last minute Saturday night, citing inclement weather.
As thunder and rain began to darken the outdoor rally, Trump, who had not yet arrived at the venue, called to announce the cancellation of the event.
“It looks like there’s thunder and lightning. It’s a pretty big storm, so I think we just need to do a rain check, if you will,” Trump said over the speaker system.
After President Trump’s announcement, loud groans and cries of disappointment could be heard from the crowd before he quickly departed.
It was scheduled to be President Trump’s first rally since he began his criminal trial in Manhattan.
President Trump told the audience that the event would be rescheduled for a later date and promised to hold it “rain or shine.”
“What we have to do is quickly make up for it at another time, and we’re going to do it as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “I’m so sad. I’m in North Carolina right now.”
The event was held outdoors near the Wilmington Airport. At the time of the cancellation, heavy rain had not yet begun, but lightning strikes were becoming more noticeable, raising safety concerns.
“We want to keep everyone safe. That’s the most important thing. We want everyone there to be 100% safe,” Trump said.
The rally was scheduled to be Trump’s second campaign event in North Carolina, a battleground state crucial to Trump and Biden’s path to victory. Trump narrowly won the state in 2020 by less than 1.5 percentage points.
Trump has been in court for much of the week for jury selection in his criminal trial, where he is charged with 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege he falsified his business records before the 2016 election to hide payments to adult business star Stormy Daniels.
Opening statements in the trial will begin on Monday, and the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
