When a rainstorm threatened the location of a proposed rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Donald Trump, the previous US president, cancelled his attendance. The event, which was set to take place at the city’s international airport, was announced to be rescheduled as “bigger and better” by Trump who contacted attendees during his en route to the site. What would have been his first public address after a week of courtroom silence in New York was unfortunately delayed.
During his call to attendees, Trump, whose message was broadcasted via loudspeakers to the assembled crowd of thousands who had braved the hot and humid conditions from early morning, expressed his disappointment. The headcount at the Aero Center at Wilmington airport was estimated to be between 7,000 and 8,000, despite only a few days’ notice being provided.
Trump’s previous week was mostly spent defending himself against legal charges of campaign finance fraud brought against him in a New York City trial. Before the intended event, a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, saw him challenging his political opponent, current US President, Joe Biden, to debates irrespective of the location or organising body, be it the allegedly corrupt DNC or its supposed affiliate, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
Following their withdrawal from engagement in the final 2020 campaign season debates, both Trump and the Republican National Committee decided to step away from the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the past president and the recently appointed chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, considers Wilmington to be a home ground. In the past two elections, Trump received North Carolina’s vote, albeit with decreasing margins. Given the state’s demographic shifts and recent changes to laws concerning abortion, Biden may find this state significantly more competitive in the near future.