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President Donald Trump was ranting about California Governor Gavin Newsom when the woman collapsed
Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C. Thursday 12 March 2026 00:40 GMT- Bookmark
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Close popoverDr Oz steps in to assist woman who collapsed at Trump rally
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Dr Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, had to pull double duty during the president's rally in Kentucky on Wednesday when a woman collapsed during the event.
Approximately a half hour into Trump’s speech, an elderly woman in the crowd behind him passed out and fell to the floor. Others attending the event managed to get Trump's attention, at which point the president asked if there was a "doctor in the house."
There was, and it happened to be one of his own officials — Dr Oz.
While Oz and a team of event first responders worked to help the woman in the crowd, Trump paused his speech and observed the proceedings, assuring the crowd they had "all the time" to wait for the woman to be treated.
At one point, Trump asked, "Do you think the people backstage are listening to me?" and suggested that if they were, they play the song Ave Maria for the crowd.
open image in galleryDr Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, gives a thumbs up after helping a woman who fainted (unseen) as US President Donald Trump speaks at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)While Trump's suggestion was likely well-intentioned, Ave Maria is a song that is sometimes played during Catholic funerals. Trump has played the song during previous rallies.
After approximately seven minutes — and no Ave Maria — the woman was back on her feet and was greeted by cheers from the crowd.
After receiving a thumbs-up from Oz, Trump said, "She looks great."
Oz and the event's first responders led the woman away from the crowd, at which point Trump pointed out that it was Oz who had moved to assist.
"It's Dr Oz, can you believe it? Dr Oz!" Trump said. "He's a good doctor. Thank you, Oz."
Once the woman had been escorted away, Trump returned to his usual rally rhetoric.
"Thank you very much. We were talking about Gavin New-scum — doesn't seem like a very good subject right now. It made that young lady not feel so good," Trump said, before launching into a rant about California Governor Gavin Newsom.
open image in galleryPresident Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11, 2026. He asked for the song ‘Ave Maria’ to play after a woman collapsed during his speech (AP)The Democratic governor wasn't the only target of Trump's ire on Wednesday night.
During his visit, Trump also called on Kentuckians to vote out seven-term Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has been a thorn in the president's side in recent months.
Trump has endorsed Massie's primary opponent, Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former U.S. Navy SEAL.
Massie has broken with Republicans on Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on Trump's tariffs, and he has been critical of Trump's war in Iran. A U.S. Soldier from Kentucky, Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington was the seventh American service member killed as a result of Trump’s war in Iran.
The congressman was also a vocal proponent for the release of the Epstein files.
Massie has insisted his voting is consistent with his ideals and with the campaign promises Trump made in 2024. He has said that Trump is breaking his promises, and he is voting accordingly.
The congressman brushed off the president's campaign against him.
“They’re paying to bus people to the Trump event in my Congressional District,” Massie wrote on social media. “What they’ll discover is Trump fans in KY-4 and across the entire Commonwealth also support my work on the Epstein files, reigning in spending, ending forever wars, draining the swamp, and food freedom!”
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