Donald Trump’s recent town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, was a night of unpredictability, spontaneous music breaks, and a quip that left some attendees stunned. During the event, which South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem co-hosted, Trump met Mary and Charles Strange, parents of Michael Strange, a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Inviting the couple on stage, Trump joked, “It’s a little harder to get up since I got shot. It made it more difficult. Perhaps that’s the way it’s supposed to be.” Though Noem forced a laugh, the comment landed uneasily, especially with Gold Star parents who had lost their son to war.
Charles Strange moved past the comment and appealed to Trump to launch a Congressional investigation into Michael’s death, noting it was the largest single loss of life in the Afghan conflict. “We still haven’t gotten any answers,” Charles said. “I’m begging you, we would like a congressional hearing.” Trump responded with assurances, promising to establish a commission within his first week in office, “not the first day, because I’ve got a lot on that first day,” he said, before inviting the couple to meet him at the White House if he wins.
The evening took a turn from serious to surreal when two audience members collapsed, interrupting Trump’s Q&A. As medics tended to the first incident, Trump initially expressed concern but, after the second disruption, decided to switch gears: “Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music.” What followed was an impromptu DJ session, with Trump directing aides to play a setlist that included Ave Maria, November Rain, and YMCA.
Ever the showman, Trump swayed and waved to the crowd, bringing out familiar campaign favorites like Pavarotti’s It’s a Man’s World and ending with YMCA as he encouraged attendees to “get out there. We have to win. This is important.”
Though the event was meant to focus on economic policy and Pennsylvania’s role as a swing state, it highlighted Trump’s unpredictable style. While Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are critical, both campaigns are aggressively working to secure the state. President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Trump’s VP candidate J.D. Vance all have Pennsylvania appearances scheduled this week as the clock counts down to November.
As Trump and Noem grooved on stage to Village People’s YMCA, the town hall may not have gone as planned, but for many attendees, it was undeniably a Trump moment.
