DETROIT — During a rally in Detroit on Friday night, Donald Trump found himself on stage in silence for almost 20 minutes after his microphone malfunctioned.
The former president, who is currently the Republican nominee, was preparing to delve into a discussion about tariffs, hinting at “the most beautiful word in the dictionary,” when suddenly the sound system failed.
In response, supporters in the crowd began chanting “USA” and “We love Trump” to show their enthusiasm. However, without a functioning microphone, Trump roamed the stage, at times appearing frustrated and turning his back to a portion of the audience.
This incident marked the second disruption of his campaign events within the week. The previous occasion occurred on Monday, when Trump abruptly concluded a town hall to play music after some attendees required medical assistance. In this latest instance, he seemed unable to address the technical issue, as screens within the venue displayed messages indicating “Technical Difficulties” and “Complicated Business.”
Known for his awareness of public perception and the intricacies of his rallies, Trump often mentions issues relating to microphones and teleprompters. Earlier that day, hosts on “Fox & Friends” had quipped about his penchant for adjusting lighting during interviews.
Typically, Trump’s team is prepared with several backup microphones, though it was unclear why one wasn’t readily available on this occasion. His aides also meticulously arrange the flags displayed at his events.
As the technical delay continued, the audience maintained their energy, cheering enthusiastically and even participating in a wave.
Eventually, nearly 20 minutes into the silence, an aide supplied Trump with a functioning microphone.
Upon regaining his audio, Trump expressed his discontent with the audio company involved by stating, “I won’t pay the bill for this stupid company. I won’t pay the bill, and then we’ll have a story that Trump didn’t pay the bill to a contractor.”
