OAKS, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump’s recent town hall event in the Philadelphia suburbs took an unexpected turn into a dance party after two medical emergencies briefly halted the proceedings. The Republican presidential nominee was engaging in a Q&A session when the first medical incident occurred, causing him to pause while a doctor in the audience provided assistance. A second medical emergency prompted a further interruption to the discussion, which was being moderated by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Both Trump and Noem commented on the heat inside the venue, with Trump inquiring about the air conditioning. Noem jokingly responded, “They probably can’t afford it, sir, in this economy.” During the first pause, Trump requested the song “Ave Maria,” and an instrumental version was played. Upon the second interruption, Trump clarified that he had meant Luciano Pavarotti’s operatic rendition of the song, which was then promptly played.
After Noem announced that the second individual was recovering, Trump spoke for a few more minutes. As many attendees lingered, seemingly unsure if the event had concluded, Trump called for music to be played again. “Those two people who went down are patriots,” Trump declared after the music started. “We love them. And because of them, we ended up with some great music, right?”
Trump then suggested transitioning the evening into a musical event, with the audience remaining seated and enjoying the music instead of continuing with questions. He requested the Village People’s “YMCA,” a song often used to signal the end of his rallies, and it filled the venue. However, Trump remained on stage, leading to an extended musical interlude.
For approximately 40 minutes, the music continued, and Trump danced and moved on stage to a diverse playlist that included Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Hallelujah,” and Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain.” While some supporters began to leave, many stayed to watch Trump Dancing At Town Hall and enjoy the impromptu concert. The scene was likened to Trump’s time at Mar-a-Lago, where he often acts as DJ for members of his club.
Finally, as “Memory” from the musical “Cats” played, Trump exited the stage. Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, shared a photo of Trump dancing at town hall from the side of the stage on social media, captioning it “DJ TRUMP!” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung also posted on social media, stating that “something very special is happening in Pennsylvania,” and described Trump as “unlike any politician in history,” adding “and it’s great.”
