Trump rally organisers fire water at crowd as supporters pass out in Texas heat
Just two days ago Trump rally left many supporters hospitalised due to freezing cold
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A water truck had to be brought in to fire a cooling stream at the crowd for President Trump’s Florida rally on Thursday, after at least one person passed out and many people complained of health issues standing in the heat.
Almost a dozen people were sent to hospitals after standing uncovered in scorching heat in the middle of the day at Tampa, Florida, where temperatures were said to rise above 30C.
Officials with Tampa Fire Rescue told NBC News that one attendee fainted during Mr Trump’s rally, another had a seizure and 10 were taken to the hospital just listed as “sick” without specific details of what happened.
Reporters present at the rally posted photos and videos of the fire trucks spraying water on the crowd to provide some relief.
This is not the first time Mr Trump has been criticised for holding rallies with a total disregard for the health of his supporters. Two days before the Tampa rally, Mr Trump’s supporters were left freezing in the cold for hours after an event at an airport in Omaha, when shuttle buses taking attendees to the rally were unable to return.
Seven people were hospitalised from the rally and 30 people were treated on site, the Omaha police department said in a statement.
Mr Trump’s rivals have been attacking him for holding rallies amid the pandemic without proper preparations for social distancing or mask usage. He has on multiple occasions downplayed the effects of the virus.
On Wednesday, speaking to reporters in Delaware, Joe Biden said the Omaha incident shows "Trump's whole approach to this crisis."
"Just look what happened last night in Omaha, after the Trump rally ended, hundreds of people, including older Americans and children, were stranded in subzero freezing temperatures for hours," he said.
He added: “Several folks ended up in the hospital... It's an image that captured President Trump's whole approach in this crisis... He makes a lot of big pronouncements, but they don't hold up.”
After two such incidents, the Trump campaign has now cancelled a rally scheduled in Fayetteville, North Carolina, due to a warning for wind, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh tweeted.
Mr Biden also held a rally at Tampa on the same day, in a rare geographical clash, with just four days remaining until election day on 3 November. Mr Trump and Mr Biden are in a close fight, though the Democrat nominee is shown as leading national opinion polls.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments