Most of Donald Trump’s campaign speeches are riddled with insults, and Trump’s stop in Pensacola on Wednesday was no exception. The Republican frontrunner targeted everyone from the media, to his opponents, to the unfortunate technician responsible for the microphone at his podium.
After tearing into President Obama’s foreign trade policy, Trump abruptly shifted his attention to the sound setup. “And by the way, I don’t like this mic,” he said. “Whoever the hell brought this mic system, don’t pay the son of a bitch that put it in. This mic is terrible. Stupid mic keeps popping. Do you hear that George? Don’t pay him! Don’t pay him. You know, I believe in paying, but when somebody does a bad job like this stupid mic, you shouldn’t pay the bastard.”
George, presumably, is George Gigicos, the director of Trump’s advance team. Clearly annoyed, Trump doubled down on the issue, insisting he would not pay for the equipment.
“Terrible, terrible, it’s true,” he continued. “And you gotta be tough with your people because they’ll pay. They don’t care. So we’re not going to pay. I guarantee I’m not going to pay for this mic.”
The sound and lighting for the event were set up by Sound Associates of Mobile, Ala., which also provided equipment for Trump’s rally in Biloxi, Miss. earlier this month.
Division manager Chuck Johnson returned a reporter’s call Thursday and explained that the firm had used the microphone specifically requested by Trump’s campaign staff. “We know he’s got high expectations and of course we want to meet them,” Johnson said. “The pre-show was fine, the other speakers were fine, and Mr. Trump was fine until about halfway through when he started swallowing the mic,” he added, laughing.
Johnson clarified that the type of mic requested by the campaign was not designed for someone speaking that forcefully with their mouth so close to it. He noted that campaign staff had been understanding and discussions were already underway about using a different microphone “better suited for Mr. Trump’s speaking style.”
However, Johnson later called back to clarify that the firm had not, in fact, been paid yet and asked that his earlier comment be retracted.
This is not the first time Trump has targeted a specific tradesperson at one of his rallies. At the Biloxi rally earlier this month, Trump singled out and berated a CNN photographer for not turning his camera to capture the crowd. In September, he lashed out at an Associated Press photographer for taking a photo that showed empty chairs at an event in South Carolina.