Officials respond to claims of eye issues following Trump rally in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The city of Tucson has responded after several media outlets reported that a handful of the attendees of the Donald Trump rally experienced eye pain or injuries.

Former President Donald Trump was in Tucson on Sept. 12 to host a rally at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall.

After the event, around six people who sat on the stage behind Trump claimed they were experiencing problems with their eyes.

According to the Daily Beast, at least one person sought medical help over “unbearable pain.”

In the NY Post story, as well as local reports, the same attendee claimed a nurse asked her if she had been sprayed with chemicals.

The Tucson Police Department and Tucson Fire Department both said they received no complaints “of any type of eye injuries or facial burning as described in some media reports.”

The city said there are no police reports about the issue.

A city spokesman said one theory is the people who complained about their eyes were actually impacted by the bright lighting used on the stage.

“Event attendees that were seated on the stage were looking directly into lighting per reports,” the city said.

The city also said the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall stage lights were not used and the “lighting was provided and set up by the campaign event organizers through a private company.”

The TFD did respond to more than 40 heat-related calls before and after Trump spoke. At least 10 people had to be transported to local hospitals.

Finally, the city of Tucson said the HVAC system at the Music Hall was upgraded in 2021 and all filters are changed four times per year.

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