Trump forced to CANCEL North Carolina rally by thunderstorm, sending thousands of people home: After week stuck in court now the weather conspires to keep former president from campaigning

After a week stuck in court Donald Trump planned to cut loose in front of thousands of adoring fans in North Carolina on Saturday.

But severe thunderstorm warnings meant he had to cancel the rally in Wilmington at the last minute, sending thousands of disappointed supporters home as conditions became too dangerous.

Instead of railing for 90 minutes against New York prosecutors, election interference and Joe Biden, Trump delivered a one-minute audio message telling people to leave.

'It's a danger to all of this,' he said, in a message played through the sound system. 'And we want to make sure that everybody is safe

'And so they have asked us to ask people to leave the site and seek shelter.' 

Thousands of people had gathered to hear Donald Trump at his first rally since the 'hush money' trial began in New York on Monday. But it was postponed with minutes to spare

Disappointed supporters made their way home but said that safety had to come first

He had been due to take the stage at 7pm for his first rally since the hush money trial started in New York.

But with skies darkening by the minute and the outdoor rally site dotted with cranes that would act as lightning magnets, the decision was taken to cancel.

Bursts of lightning could be seen in the distance. 

Trump said he was 'devastated' but he would be back soon. 

'We are just going to have to do a rain check,' he said as people began streaming for the exits. 'I'm so sad ... They are saying the weather is really, really getting bad.' 

The timing could not have been worse. He spent the week in courtroom 1530 of Manhattan criminal court like a caged beast, able only to vent his fury in short bursts at the injustice of it all.

On Saturday, he was set to cut loose in front of an adoring rally crowd.

The rally was intended to be his first since the start of his criminal 'hush money' trial in New York. 

And the venue was also a reminder of how the 2024 election will run through the southern swing state of North Carolina. Trump won the state by just 1.5 points over President Joe Biden last time around.

 The scene earlier as supporters braved temperatures in the 80s

But with less than half an hour to go before kick-off, Trump announced he was postponing

Trump held a fundraising event in Charlotte earlier in the day, where aides said he raised $6 million. He said he was 'devastated' that he had to cancel

People head for the exits after hearing Trump's message canceling the rally

Fans filed on to the airport apron at 3pm, hoping to find the best spot to see the former president before the event was cancelled 

Vendors selling caps, flags and T-shirts lined the parking lot outside the rally venue

Trump took to Truth Social in the hours before the rally to berate prosecutors and judge

Before the rally was halted, Trump was readying for his second visit in the past two months. 

Supporters said they were bitterly disappointed as they departed but that safety had to come first. 

'I'll be at the next one,' said Cletus Leppo, who worked for the Post Office before retiring.

For now, his main focus is the case unfolding in Judge Juan Merchan's court where he is accused of fiddling business documents to hide hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.

Trump denies all the charges.

But he is also under scrutiny for public statements and social media posts attacking people connected with the case. 

A March gag order prevents him from making public statements about witnesses and their potential statements, as well as prosecutors, court staff and their family members if his words are intended to interfere with the case.

(District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the judge are not covered by the order.

Prosecutors allege he has already breached the order multiple times.

By the end of the week, a 12-strong jury had been selected.

But plen

ty of people in Wilmington said they had barely paid attention. The fix was in, they said.

'I haven't bothered to watch it,' said George Kopek, 82, who now lives beside a golf course after a life in sales, and whose nose has the sun scars to prove it. 'I have a lot of golf to play.' 

Former American President Donald Trump became the first former president to go on trial when a jury was sworn in on Monday afternoon in Manhattan criminal court

He spent four days of the week in the courtroom, able to address the media only during breaks 

The full jury has been set in the Trump trial. Twelve Manhattan residents will decide if he is guilty or not guilty and six alternates will be backup 

The trial of a former president is unprecedented in American history. The fact that Trump is the prospective Republican nominee and is leading Biden in national polls makes it all the more extraordinary.

Trump has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of a political witch hunt and election interference. 

On Saturday, he kept up his argument with a Truth Social post hours before he was due to appear, asking why the case had not been prosecuted eight years ago.

'Instead they waited and brought it right in the middle of my presidential campaign against the worst and most incompetent president ever, crooked Joe Biden,' he said.

'It is being presided over by possibly the most conflicted judge in judicial history, who must be removed from this hoax immediately.'