(Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s effort to court voters at a sweltering town hall in the Philadelphia suburbs came to a premature end and transformed into an impromptu dance party after multiple audience members fainted Monday, requiring medical attention.
The interruptions began around 40 minutes after Trump took the stage, with the former president pausing his discussion with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to summon a doctor.
“This is a little bit of a tough one,” Trump said while watching the scene at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center unfold.
Shortly after a supporter was escorted from the arena, Trump resumed his remarks — only for another person to quickly faint.
Trump walked to the side of the stage to consult with event staff and his security, asking if doors could be opened to allow in cold air. He requested his staff to begin playing Luciano Pavarotti’s rendition of “Ave Maria” while doctors attended to those in the crowd.
“Personally, I enjoy this,” Trump said. “We lose weight, you know, now you lose weight. We could do this, lose four or five pounds.”
After the second person was able to leave the event, Trump apparently decided he did not want to proceed with the question-and-answer session — instead offering to continue playing more music for the assembled crowd. Trump then danced from the stage as songs including “YMCA” and “Hallelujah” and “Nothing Compares 2 U” were played and audience members trickled out of the steamy arena.
“Those two people that went down are patriots, and we love them, because of them, we ended up with some good music, right?” Trump said.
The people who fainted were immediately given medical attention, said Trump’s campaign. But the incident is likely to fan complaints from his aides that new security restrictions have forced many of his political events indoors following a pair of assassination attempts earlier this year.
Trump’s team has requested additional security measures for the closing weeks of the campaign, and expressed frustration that President Joe Biden’s administration hasn’t provided more resources.
The campaign for Kamala Harris seized on Trump’s behavior, tweeting video of Trump standing on stage as the music played.
Economic Messaging
The odd scene unfolded as Trump and his Democratic rival held dueling campaign events in Pennsylvania on Monday as both sought to convince voters in the key battleground state that they would be the best stewards of the economy over the next four years.
Before the interruption, Trump championed his plans to eliminate income taxes on Social Security and deregulate the energy and home construction industries as he looked to court women and independent voters in suburban Philadelphia. He argued doing so would unlock home ownership by driving down inflation and interest rates.
“You’ve been eaten alive with inflation, and all I’m doing is getting you back to even,” Trump said.
Harris, for her part, looked to boost her standing with Black male voters with a trip to Erie, where she visited a local record and coffee shop to discuss small business ownership. Harris has proposed offering a tax deduction of up to $50,000 for new small businesses, and ahead of the event, Harris proposed steps such as a new program for Black entrepreneurs and others who have faced barriers to financing that would provide 1 million loans that are fully forgivable up to $20,000 to start businesses.
The economy has taken on paramount importance in Pennsylvania — as in the nation at large. Polls show voters consistently identify the economy as their top issue, with Trump holding a persistent but narrowing edge over Harris. Both candidates in recent weeks have criss-crossed the state, seeking to assure voters they are best positioned to address the high prices that have hammered households and bolster job and wage growth.
Top Battleground
Harris on Monday also vowed to support a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency — to give more support to the 20% of Black Americans who own or have owned digital assets — and to work with lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana and make sure Black men are able to take part in the expanding cannabis industry. Other proposals would build training and mentorship programs to help Black men obtain well-paying jobs.
Harris’ campaign also unveiled new audiovisual elements at her rally, using clips from Trump’s own events to paint her opponent as an extremist.
“He’s talking about that he considers anyone who doesn’t support him or who will not bend to his will an enemy of our country — it’s a serious issue,” Harris said, adding that she saw the Republican as “increasingly unstable and unhinged and he is out for unchecked power.”
Pennsylvania is part of the Democratic Blue Wall — a trio of battleground states that also includes Michigan and Wisconsin — that is crucial to the party retaining the White House.
--With assistance from Riley Griffin.
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