ALBAWABA - The current presidential contender and former U.S. president Donald Trump delayed his arrival to a rally in Michigan to conduct an interview for a popular podcast, leaving supporters waiting for three hours in the bitter cold.
When he arrived, Trump apologized to the people still waiting on the tarmac at the airport. He blamed his tardiness on an interview he was doing with Joe Rogan, a very powerful podcast personality in the US, especially with young male voters, a group Trump is trying to appeal to.
Recorded in Austin, Texas, the interview lasted almost three hours and was broadcast on Friday night. Throughout the show, Trump answered Rogan's queries and related well-known campaign tales.
Trump used this visit to further highlight traditional masculinity concepts, which have been a major topic of his 2024 campaign. Through his many podcast appearances, he has increasingly targeted young male voters.
Trump attacked government efforts to boost the U.S. semiconductor sector in the interview, a major accomplishment of President Joe Biden's administration, where manufacturers credit the public investment in new plants for a large portion of their success.
The vitriol between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is becoming more heated as the election draws near. Trump also made remarks about Taiwan, an autonomous territory that has traditionally supported the US.
"You know," he said to Rogan, "Taiwan has stolen our chip industry. You are aware that they want us to defend them without charging for it.
Additionally, Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping "a smart man, whether you like him or not." Xi Jinping's administration considers Taiwan to be a renegade province.
