Donald Trump arrived a political rally in Michigan hours late on Friday with thousands of his supporters abandoning the event, while others huddled in the cold weather to await the former president.
The Republican presidential nominee was late to the rally in the battleground state as he was busy recording an interview with Joe Rogan, America's most listened-to podcaster, which stretched to three hours in Austin, Texas.
Minutes before Mr Trump’s Michigan rally was scheduled to begin, his spokesman posted on the social media platform X that Mr Trump was just leaving Texas, more than two hours away by air.
EPIC: President Trump just wrapped a 3 HOUR episode of the Joe Rogan Podcast!
We’re coming now, Michigan! pic.twitter.com/qmJrgJKCFy— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) October 25, 2024
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Mr Trump recorded a video from his plane urging his supporters to stay, noting it was Friday night and promising, “We’re going to have a good time tonight.”
Attendees who chose to wait for the former president bundled up, wrapping themselves in blankets as they waited for him to land.
Some of those who stuck around took it in stride.
“Well, we rather they were on time,” said Karen Targanski from Bay City, Michigan, which is more than a two-hour drive away.
She added that seeing Mr Trump would be “worth the wait.”
Mr Trump was also slated to speak at the Traverse City airport, where temperatures dipped as supporters waited in the dark.
Mr Trump is aggressively courting younger male voters with whom Mr Rogan is widely popular.
The interview was released on Friday night.
Democrat Kamala Harris was also in Texas on Friday for an appearance with superstar Beyonce in Houston at an event highlighting the conservative state’s abortion ban enacted after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
Three of the justices who voted to overturn Roe were nominated by Mr Trump.
