Trump speeds to Oklahoma rally, defying weather and speed limits

Donald Trump, aged 80, departed a Peterbilt truck plant outside Dallas shortly before 6 p.m. after severe weather made air transport impossible. He announced on Truth Social that he would drive from Texas to Oklahoma, insisting the event could not be postponed. The journey, roughly 80 miles, normally takes about an hour and a half, but Trump’s heavily armored vehicle, “The Beast,” was pushed to speeds close to 100 mph, with a press van reportedly matching 98 mph.

The rally, supporting Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Mazzei, began around 7:50 p.m., nearly two hours behind schedule. Onstage, Trump told supporters the trip was arduous, blamed the weather for the delay, and highlighted his determination to reach the crowd. The episode occurs as Trump’s approval rating sits at a record low for his term, with a recent poll showing only 34 percent approval, underscoring the political stakes of his midterm-season tour.