Six individuals who were present at a Donald Trump rally in Tucson, Arizona have reported unexplained eye injuries after they sat in the area behind Trump on stage.
The event, which took place on September 12, 2024, at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, attracted over 2,000 attendees despite the 100-degree Arizona heat. Following the event, numerous attendees, including Mayra Rodriguez, experienced near blindness.
Rodriguez, an anti-abortion advocate and ex-director at Planned Parenthood, began experiencing symptoms after the rally ended. “As soon as we left and we stepped outside, my eyes were burning,” Rodriguez stated in an interview with News 4 Tucson. Following a visit to the emergency room, she was told her symptoms suggested exposure to a harmful substance.
Rodriguez’s symptoms continued into the following day, leaving her nearly sightless. Despite the inability of doctors to identify a clear cause, her condition gradually improved in the days after the rally.
Similarly, other attendees located on the right side of the stage, directly behind Trump, reported similar experiences. A brother and sister described intense eye discomfort and other symptoms. The sister shared with reporters, “My eyes were watering a lot, my nose started running, then I started feeling my face get really flushed, and my neck felt like it was on fire.” Her brother’s description was in line with her account—his eyes “were red like hell,” and the pain was “unbearable.”
Medical professionals have been unable to determine the cause of these symptoms. While some speculate environmental factors such as dust or chemical exposure, others have suggested issues with the stage equipment or lighting. The high temperature on the day of the event might have also contributed to the severity of the injuries.
Adding to the puzzle is the fact that attendees seated on the opposite side of Trump did not report any of these symptoms. The affected group, all seated behind the former president, were the only ones to experience these unexplained injuries.
In response to these reports, the Trump campaign has confirmed it is investigating the incident. However, no additional information about the cause of the eye injuries has been released. The Secret Service has also confirmed that there were no known threats to Trump at the rally, and they were not informed about the reported injuries.
While no official explanation has been provided, those affected, like Rodriguez, continue to seek answers. The precise cause of these symptoms continues to be unknown, but those affected are hopeful that a comprehensive investigation will eventually shed light on the events of that day in Tucson.
