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During a recent town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump had to pause his speech after several attendees fainted due to excessive heat. The incident, which took place in a crowded, unventilated venue, prompted a series of comments from Trump that some found surprising, as he appeared more amused than concerned about the situation.
As the first person to receive medical attention, Trump briefly acknowledged the early-arriving crowd and the medical staff, thanking them for their efforts. However, after a second person fainted, he made a more lighthearted remark, saying, “Personally I enjoy this, you know.
We lose weight. We can do this, lose four or five pounds, it’s OK with me.” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was in attendance, added to the humor, quipping, “Kamala Harris isn’t doing this.” Trump laughed at the joke, agreeing that, given the current economic situation, having air conditioning wouldn’t be affordable.
In response to the heat, Trump jokingly asked the audience, “Would anybody else like to faint? Please raise your hand,” as reported by Newsweek. His comments, while intended to lighten the mood, drew mixed reactions from both supporters and critics alike.
Amid the commotion, Trump requested to open the doors to allow fresh air into the room, but was told it wasn’t possible due to security concerns. Despite the fainting, Trump assured the crowd that the individuals receiving medical attention were fine. Instead of returning to the scheduled Q&A session, Trump took an unexpected turn by transforming the event into an impromptu musical concert.
According to The Independent, Trump swayed on stage to one of his favorite songs, Luciano Pavarotti’s Ave Maria, while playing music for nearly 40 minutes. Some attendees began to leave early, but Trump appeared unfazed, continuing to entertain those who stayed.
A representative from Trump’s team later explained that the former president had turned the event into a musical interlude to “lighten the mood” and bring joy to the audience. Another spokesperson, Steven Cheung, took to Twitter, attributing the fainting to the crowd’s overwhelming excitement. He described the atmosphere at the Pennsylvania town hall as a “total lovefest.”
Trump himself addressed the incident on his Truth Social platform, writing, “We started playing music while we waited, and just kept it going. So different, but it ended up being a GREAT EVENING!” His supporters echoed this sentiment, seeing the event as a memorable and enjoyable experience despite the unusual circumstances.
However, not everyone shares this view. Kamala Harris’s campaign team, Kamala HQ, was quick to criticize Trump, accusing him of looking “lost, confused, and frozen on stage.” Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), calling the situation “sad” and suggesting that Trump might need help from his family. He went further, describing Trump as appearing “brain dead” during the event.
Despite these critiques, Trump’s aides defended the former president, insisting that his impromptu musical performance delighted the crowd and shifted the atmosphere positively. According to USA Today, they claimed that Harris and other Democrats were simply making cheap shots because they were fearful of losing in the upcoming elections.
