• Donald Trump was nearly three hours late to a rally in Michigan.
  • The Republican nominee said he was delayed due to recording an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast.
  • Trump apologized for his tardiness, saying: "I figured you wouldn't mind too much because we're trying to win."

Donald Trump apologized to a crowd at a rally in Michigan after he rocked up almost three hours late due to taping an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast.

The rally in Traverse City was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

But around an hour after the scheduled start time, Trump addressed the onlookers from a huge screen, speaking from a plane as he made his way from Austin.

"We're stepping on the gas," he said.

A Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, wrote on X that the former president had just finished up recording a three-hour episode of Rogan's show.

"We're coming now, Michigan!" he said.

Trump appeared onstage after 10 p.m.

"We got so tied up, but I figured you wouldn't mind too much because we're trying to win," he said.

"I got interviewed by actually a great guy. I didn't know him too well, but I got to know him because it was the longest interview I've ever done in my life. Joe Rogan, a good guy," he continued, adding that he told his team he was set on pressing ahead with the event in Michigan.

"The Joe Rogan Experience" is one of Spotify's most popular podcasts, with 14.5 million followers.

In 2022, Rogan criticized the former president, saying he wouldn't have him on the show and calling him "an existential threat to democracy."

But in his latest episode, which is out now on Spotify, Rogan suggested the assassination attempt in July had changed his position.

"Once they shot you, I was like, 'He's got to come in here,'" Rogan said. "It's all about timing."

Vice President Kamala Harris has also recently targeted podcast listeners for her campaign, having appeared on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast earlier this month.

Harris is set to be joined by Michelle Obama at a campaign rally in Michigan on Saturday, while Trump will host another rally in Michigan before heading on to Pennsylvania.

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