Trump sways to music for 39 minutes at bizarre town hall, sparking concerns over mental fitness
Photo: AFP
Donald Trump left supporters and critics alike confused and concerned during a recent town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where he spent an unexpected 39 minutes swaying to music rather than addressing the audience’s questions. The town hall, which was initially designed to be a traditional Q&A session aimed at discussing voter concerns in the lead-up to the 2024 election, quickly shifted in tone after several medical emergencies in the audience prompted a temporary halt to the proceedings.
As the program paused, Trump remained on stage, awkwardly waiting for guidance on how to proceed. Instead of continuing with the planned Q&A, Trump took an unexpected approach, telling the crowd, "Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Who the hell wants to hear questions, right?" The former president then began nodding along to an eclectic playlist that included Rufus Wainwright's rendition of Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah," James Brown's "It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World," and other tracks such as Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" and Elvis Presley’s "An American Trilogy."
they're now playing an opera version of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" while Trump continues to bob around on stage. words fail. pic.twitter.com/KbpNlVVslp
This bizarre turn of events has fueled already growing concerns about Trump’s mental acuity and cognitive stability. Critics, including Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, have previously voiced worries about Trump’s erratic behavior, with Harris describing him as "unstable." A recent New York Times report also cited concerns about Trump’s perceived confusion and disconnection from reality during public appearances.To further complicate the situation, Trump’s choice of music sparked controversy, particularly with one of the featured artists. Rufus Wainwright, whose version of "Hallelujah" played during the event, publicly condemned Trump for using the song, issuing a scathing statement in response. Wainwright expressed his outrage, stating that Leonard Cohen’s song has long symbolized peace and acceptance, and he found Trump’s use of it to be "the height of blasphemy." The Cohen estate swiftly followed up with a cease-and-desist order to prevent further use of the song in Trump’s campaign events.
Adding to the concerns over Trump’s cognitive state, he made several offhand remarks during the town hall, including a bizarre reference to the fictional character Hannibal Lecter while addressing grocery prices and mistakenly urging supporters to vote on "January 5th," instead of the actual Election Day. These incidents have left many questioning Trump’s ability to effectively engage with voters and maintain focus during key moments of his campaign.
As the event stretched on without returning to its original format, some attendees began leaving the venue before Trump finally exited the stage. The former president’s erratic behavior, combined with his refusal to participate in mainstream interviews—having recently canceled planned appearances on CNBC and CBS News' 60 Minutes—has raised further doubts about his mental fitness as the election approaches. Trump's continued engagement primarily with conservative-leaning outlets has only heightened speculation that he may be trying to avoid broader media scrutiny.