President Donald Trump’s motorcade raced through rainy highways between Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday after severe weather grounded his planned air travel, with a press van reportedly reaching 98 mph while trying to keep pace.
Trump had just finished an appearance at a Peterbilt Motors facility in Denton, Texas, when bad weather forced the White House to scrap plans to fly him to his next campaign stop in Durant, Oklahoma.
Rather than cancel the event, Trump decided to make the roughly 80-mile trip by road.
The president later joked about just how fast the motorcade was moving.
“‘The Beast’ is going faster than it has ever gone before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the presidential limousine.
Reporters traveling with the motorcade said the trip lived up to Trump’s description.
A press van accompanying the convoy reportedly reached 98 mph at one point while trying to keep up with the presidential motorcade.
No injuries were reported during the high-speed trip.
Trump later told supporters in Durant that aides had raised the possibility of postponing the event because aircraft could not safely make the journey.
The president said he rejected the idea.
“I said, ‘Get your asses in that car. We’re going to Oklahoma,’” Trump told the crowd.
Trump said he had been informed that his limousine could travel close to 100 mph.
The president ultimately arrived in Oklahoma after the rally had already been delayed.
His appearance there followed a busy day of campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections.
During his earlier stop in Texas, Trump threw his support behind Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
“We need Ken so badly, that’s why I am here,” Trump said.
Trump also praised Paxton’s loyalty while joking that the candidate could sometimes be difficult.
“Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he could be a pain in the a– sometimes to be honest,” Trump told the crowd.
He later described Paxton as “one of the most loyal people” and urged supporters to help elect him.
“We got to get this guy elected,” Trump said.
The president also used the Texas stop to talk about manufacturing and the economy.
Trump said the United States had added 60,000 manufacturing jobs this year and claimed heavy truck manufacturing was up about 31%, per Trending Politics.
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was also present during Trump’s Texas appearance.
Trump gave Rodman a public shoutout and praised his basketball career.
He called Rodman “the greatest rebounder” and also mentioned Rodman’s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“When I wanted to get to know Kim Jong Un, when we’re having a problem, Kim Jong Un and I get along, but the one who knew him best was Dennis Rodman,” Trump said.
By the time Trump reached Durant, the event was running well behind schedule.
Still, the president told supporters he had never seriously considered abandoning the trip.
“My heart’s in it. I would be home right now if it wasn’t,” Trump said.
“My heart is in it like never before.”
Trump also said his decision to make the drive was personal because Oklahoma had strongly supported him in each of his presidential campaigns.
He praised Republican candidates in the state and predicted success for those he had endorsed.
“I really came here to pay my respect to a place that I love and I appreciate,” Trump told the crowd. “So that’s why I’m here.”
The unusual road trip quickly became one of the most memorable moments of Trump’s latest campaign swing.
With weather preventing air travel, the presidential limousine instead headed north toward Oklahoma at high speed, while members of the press corps raced to keep up.
