Donald Trump Silently Paces Stage for 20 Minutes Due to Mic Failure

Trump Paces Stage in Silence for Nearly 20 Minutes Due to Mic Failure

DETROIT (AP) — Donald Trump faced an unexpected challenge during his rally in Detroit on Friday night when his microphone cut out, leaving him to pace the stage in silence for nearly 20 minutes.

As he approached one of his preferred topics, tariffs, Trump began to intrigue the crowd by hinting at “the most beautiful word in the dictionary,” but silence soon followed when the audio failed. The audience rallied with chants of "USA" and "We love Trump," but the former president was left wandering the stage, visibly frustrated, at times turning his back to the audience.

This incident marks the second time in a week that one of Trump’s events faced interruptions. Previously, during a town hall, he switched to music after several attendees required medical assistance. On this occasion, he was seemingly at the mercy of technical difficulties, as screens displayed messages indicating the issue.

Trump is known for his meticulous attention to the mechanics of his rallies, and it was unclear why aides were unable to provide a backup microphone promptly, despite the common practice of traveling with extras. This hiccup led Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign to use the moment in a social media message suggesting Trump, at 78, may lack the energy required for another term.

Despite the technical issue, the crowd continued to engage, performing the wave while awaiting a resolution. Finally, an aide delivered a working microphone, prompting Trump to quip, “I won’t pay the bill for this stupid company,” highlighting his characteristic flair for drama.