Trump reaches Oklahoma rally by road after weather changes travel plans

US President Donald Trump arrived by motorcade at a campaign rally in Durant, Oklahoma, on Thursday, 1 October 2026, after bad weather changed plans for the journey from Texas. The travelling press pool recorded departure at 5.47pm local time, arrival at the Choctaw venue at 7.02pm and Trump taking the stage at 7.51pm. The rally had begun at 6pm with other speakers. [3] [4] [5] [10] [11]

In a Truth Social post at 6.39pm local time during the drive, Trump described a “major weather delay” and said planes and helicopters could not land. He said he had rejected a proposal to postpone the event and claimed his limousine, “The Beast”, was going “faster than it has ever gone before”. He did not identify who had proposed postponement. [1]

Los Angeles Times correspondent Ana Ceballos, travelling with the press pool, said its planned Osprey flight had been replaced by a motorcade because of a “bad weather call”. The Associated Press reported that the White House attributed Trump’s road journey from Denton to Durant to bad weather. [2] [11]

In its 6.27pm aviation assessment, the National Weather Service reported low cloud ceilings across south-east Oklahoma and expected the cloud cover to persist. Its evening update said the main rain band had moved east of Bryan and Atoka counties. Earlier that afternoon, Air Force One had landed at Dallas/Fort Worth at 2.55pm; Denton recorded 10 miles of visibility under overcast skies at 5.53pm. [7] [8]