Arizona Rally with Former President Donald Trump Draws Concerns Over Heat-Related Hospitalizations

Extreme heat in Arizona sent 11 people to hospital as thousands waited to enter a campaign rally with former President Donald Trump.

As Trump took the stage just after 17:00 EDT (22:00 GMT) at a mega-church in Phoenix, the temperature was 111F (44C).

It was his first rally since his criminal conviction in a New York hush-money case, which found him guilty of falsifying business records in relation to a payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump used the campaign event to repeat accusations that the case against him was politically motivated and called for the conviction to be overturned.

“I just went through a rigged trial in New York,” he insisted. “It was made-up, fabricated stuff.”

The ex-president is expected to appeal against all 34 charges in the trial.

Fans started lining up early outside the massive Phoenix Dream City Church to see him speak, and strict security measures meant it took time for everyone to get in.

As supporters waited outside the campaign rally, BBC News saw several people being treated for heat-related issues and two were taken to hospital.

On Thursday – two weeks before summer even officially starts – the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast record-breaking temperatures in interior California, and parts of Nevada and Arizona.

Temperatures were expected to reach 121F (49C) in California’s scorching Death Valley during the heatwave.

In Phoenix, an excessive heat warning is in place on Friday, with people being asked to limit time outdoors and stay hydrated.

Trump started a small campaign tour with the stop in Phoenix on Thursday, exactly a week after he was found guilty in New York.

The former president spoke for about 90 minutes before departing for a fundraiser in San Francisco.

As well as railing against his conviction, he said he would reverse President Joe Biden’s new executive order aimed at curbing migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border.

“On day one of my administration, I will be rescinding Crooked Joe’s outrageous executive order,” he said, describing it as “pro-invasion”.

The presidential candidate promised to “terminate every single open-borders policy of the Biden administration”. As both sides continue their campaigning, Trump said in an interview aired on Thursday that he would announce his pick for running mate at next month’s Republican National Convention, commenting: “We have some very good people.” (BBC)