Via/ABC
Former President Donald Trump kicked off his rally in Montana with a humorous take on the state’s famously long drives after arriving late to the event. Scheduled to speak around 8 p.m. local time on Friday, Trump faced an unexpected delay, ultimately starting his address closer to 9:30 p.m. following an emergency landing in Billings, reported AP News.
Opening his speech with gratitude for the large turnout, Trump addressed the crowd by sharing his recent experiences in Montana. “Hello Montana, I’ve been traveling all over,” he began. “I’ll tell you, I know Montana better than you know Montana. I was all over your state today.”
He playfully mocked the extensive travel times between locations in the state. “Everything was two hours! ‘When are we going to be there?’ ‘Two hours, sir. Two hours,’” Trump said, adding with a grin, “I said, ‘When are we going to be there?’ ‘Approximately 2 1/2 hours, sir.’ I said, ‘Oh, great.’”
Trump then shifted focus to Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester. Expressing strong support, Trump said, “I gotta like Tim Sheehy a lot to be here. You better win!”
Despite his frustrations with Montana’s driving distances, Trump continued to praise the state’s grandeur. “I said, ‘When are we going to be there?’” he joked again, “Friday evening in Montana. I think my next drive will be three, four hours. I wish it was a little closer, but that’s ok.”
His remarks came as a rally-goer received medical attention, adding a touch of levity to the situation. Throughout the speech, Trump maintained his signature blend of humor and political commentary, reinforcing his connection with the audience while highlighting his familiar critique of travel times in Montana.
