Donald Trump says he 'doesn't freeze' as he slams Joe Biden in response to 30 second glitch at NRA speech

Donald Trump was criticized for his silent pause while asking Texans to cast their votes
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2024
Donald Trump dismisses criticism from Joe Biden's campaign after pausing during NRA speech (Getty Images)
Donald Trump dismisses criticism from Joe Biden's campaign after pausing during NRA speech (Getty Images)

DALLAS, TEXAS: Donald Trump has lashed out at President Joe Biden after the former president appeared to freeze mid-speech for over 30 seconds at the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual meeting on Saturday, May 18.

Rallying gun-owning Texans to vote in the upcoming presidential election in November during his address in Dallas, the 77-year-old politician unexpectedly fell silent, according to The Independent.

Joe Biden (Getty Images)
Joe Biden's campaign criticized Donald Trump for his 30 second pause during NRA speech in Texas (Getty Images)

Donald Trump says freeze during speech is a 'made up Biden story'

As Trump appeared to freeze during his speech, Biden’s supporters on social media slammed the former president and later labeled him "too feeble to stay awake" during his ongoing hush money trial, questioning his mental competency.  



 

However, Trump took to Truth Social to dismiss the criticism as he claimed it was a “made up Biden campaign story.”

“The Biden Campaign… put out a Fake Story that I ‘froze’ for 30 seconds, going into the ‘Musical Interlude’ section, when in actuality, the 30 to 60 second period of silence is standard in every one of my Speeches where we use the Music,” he wrote on Sunday, May 19.

“The reason they came up with this Disinformation is that Biden freezes all the time, can’t put two sentences together, and can rarely find his way off the stage without help. Donald Trump doesn’t freeze!” Trump added.



 

Donald Trump's NRA speech in Texas

After lauding Texans and their Wild West heritage before what he claimed in his speech on Saturday, May 18, was a "record crowd” of “enthusiastic patriots,” Trump suddenly fell silent for 30 seconds.

Speaking about gun owners, he said, “The Texas spirit of proud independence was forged by cowboys and cattle hands, ranchers and rangers, oil workers, soldiers and brave, brave, brave, pioneers."

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 22: U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the final presidential debate against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at Belmont University on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the last debate between the two candidates before the election on November 3. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Donald Trump  appeared to fall silent mid-speech in Texas (Getty Images)

“Many came here with nothing but the boots or their feet, the clothes on their back, and the gun in their saddle. Together they helped make America into the single greatest nation in the history of the world,” he wrapped up his speech before the silent pause.

Donald Trump hits back at Biden campaign for 'leaning on his podium too hard'

Biden's campaign team also took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on Trump appearing to cling to a wobbling podium.

"A feeble Trump nearly falls down on stage after he leans on his podium too hard and then goes on an angry rant calling his event workers 'crappy'," tweeted the Biden campaign.



 

However, Trump countered their comments as he wrote on Truth Social. “As far as the podium, I actually stopped it from falling due to good reflexes and strength, two elements which Joe Biden does not possess," he wrote.



 

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