Former President Donald Trump found himself off-script on Thursday while speaking to a crowd in Saginaw, Michigan, after admitting that his teleprompters had failed mid-speech. The moment led to a noticeable shift in his remarks, as Trump lost track of his message before launching into a more improvised portion of the speech.
As Trump began discussing Vice President Kamala Harris, he abruptly veered off course, saying, “She did so many different things, so many deadly things.” He then pivoted to the broader significance of the upcoming election, stating, “We’re at a point in our country’s life that I think is — I think it’s the most important election in the history of our country”, as per reports Raw Story.
In an attempt to lighten the moment, Trump acknowledged the malfunction. “And by the way, I want to tell you a funny story,” he told the crowd. “The teleprompter just went out!” He used the opportunity to praise his own ability to navigate such technical difficulties, boasting, “Isn’t it nice to have somebody that doesn’t need a teleprompter? You know, it’s very dangerous. You have to be careful. You know, teleprompters will often go out.”
Trump went on to claim that only a “certain type of person” could handle such moments during a speech, implying that he was uniquely suited for it. “Usually, I don’t talk about it,” he added. “Oh, we’ve lost a teleprompter many times. The worst is the wind.”
Recalling a past experience in Ohio, Trump described how harsh weather once made using teleprompters nearly impossible. “I was in Ohio for Bernie Merino, and it was 45-mile-an-hour winds. These things were blowing like flags. You felt like a drunken sailor in all due respect.”
Despite the technical hiccup, Trump used the moment to showcase his ability to speak off the cuff, a trait he has often highlighted to contrast himself with other politicians. The teleprompter failure did not seem to faze him as he continued addressing the audience, reinforcing his message about the importance of the 2024 election.