In a campaign event that was intended to focus squarely on the US economy, former President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging and viral 90-minute speech in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Friday. While he did touch upon key economic indicators like low inflation, the address quickly became dominated by personal tangents, most notably a detailed story about federal agents searching First Lady Melania Trump's lingerie drawer.
From Economic Agenda to Personal Anecdotes
The rally, held ahead of next year's crucial mid-term elections, was ostensibly a platform for Trump to highlight his administration's past economic record and address current voter concerns about issues like unemployment. He briefly referenced the recently released positive inflation numbers. However, the core economic message was repeatedly sidelined by the former President's digressions.
A significant portion of the speech was dedicated to Trump criticising the ongoing investigations by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He specifically recalled the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, framing it as an intrusive act. It was while condemning this search that he introduced the unexpected anecdote about his wife.
"Her undergarments, sometimes referred to as panties, are folded perfect, wrapped. They’re like, so perfect. I said, that’s beautiful," Trump told the crowd, adding his belief that she steams them. He contrasted this order with the state the FBI left them in, claiming, "She opened the drawers, and it was not that way. They were a mess. It was all over the place." He emphasised that Melania Trump felt particularly violated by this aspect of the search.
Attacks on Rivals and Rambling Remarks
Trump's departures from the economic script extended far beyond the personal. He revisited old political battles, speaking fondly of his 2016 victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. "I don’t know, beating Hillary was fun. Remember, she was a nasty person. I was going to use a B word. I said, ‘my wife would not be happy,'" he remarked, to loud cheers from supporters holding signs about lower prices and bigger paychecks.
In a notable shift, Trump also turned his fire on a former ally, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. He publicly mocked her, using the nickname "Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene" and questioning her bravery. "It's unbelievable but she dropped out because I wasn't going to endorse her. And the person I was going to endorse was going to kill her at the polls," he claimed, escalating a weeks-long public feud.
The speech took other random turns, including a story about the importance of a chair's arm shape when buying furniture in North Carolina. He also made comments about women and aesthetics, stating, "I’m a very aesthetic person, believe me, except with women, I don’t care what a woman looks like. I used to say beautiful. Now I don't care."
Addressing Health Concerns and Defiant Conclusion
Another key tangent involved Trump addressing recent scrutiny over his health and energy levels, following instances where he was seen dozing off at public events. He pointed to cognitive tests he claims to have aced and made a promise to the American public regarding his fitness.
"When that time comes, I will let you know about it. In fact, you’ll probably find out about it just by watching," Trump said. He ended the point defiantly, asserting, "But that time is not now, because I feel the same that I felt for 50 years."
The event underscored a familiar pattern in Trump's campaign style, where formal policy agendas blend seamlessly with, and are often overshadowed by, highly personal grievances, attacks on rivals, and unconventional stories that dominate news cycles and social media feeds long after the rally ends.
