In Phoenix, Arizona, a town hall event featuring former President Donald Trump became a health hazard due to extreme temperatures, resulting in 11 people being hospitalized for heat exhaustion. The event, titled “Chase the Vote,” was held at the Dream City Church and attracted thousands of attendees, creating chaotic scenes as some fans were unable to enter the packed venue.
Local reports from AZ Central detailed how attendees, forced to wait outside in the blistering heat, endured temperatures soaring to 107 degrees. Phoenix Police confirmed that first responders had to transfer 11 individuals to local hospitals as the mercury climbed even higher, reaching a peak of 110 degrees on Thursday.
The event, organized by Turning Point Action, marked one of Trump’s first public appearances following his recent unanimous conviction by a New York City jury on charges of falsifying business documents to conceal alleged affairs with an adult film star during the 2016 election campaign.
Despite the legal controversies surrounding him, Trump took the stage four hours after doors opened at 10 a.m. During his speech, he vehemently criticized the appellate courts, suggesting that their failure to address his grievances could jeopardize the nation’s future. “Those appellate courts have to step up and straighten things out or we’re not going to have a country anymore,” Trump declared, underscoring the dramatic tone of his ongoing campaign as the presumptive Republican nominee.