Several Trump Rallygoers Experience Mysterious Eye Injuries After Sitting on Stage: ‘It’s Unbearable’

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Justin Sullivan/Getty

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, greets supporters during a campaign event at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on September 12, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. Former President Donald Trump held a campaign event to speak on the economy.

Justin Sullivan/Getty

At least six people who attended a recent Trump rally in Arizona suffered unsettling eye injuries from an unknown source following the event, according to reports.

“As soon as we left and we stepped outside my eyes were burning,” Mayra Rodriguez told the news station. By the end of her 90-minute drive home to Phoenix, Rodriguez said she had decided to seek emergency treatment at a hospital.

“The emergency room staff, from the triage nurse to the PA [physician assistant] asked, ‘Are you sure you didn’t get sprayed with something? Your symptoms look like you got sprayed with something,’ " she told KVOA.

The next day, Rodriguez — who rose to prominence in GOP circles as a Planned Parenthood director turned anti-choice advocate — was experiencing temporary blindness.

“I can’t see anything when I try to open my eyes. I see a bright light. It hurts, it hurts a lot to open my eyes. I have this cold cloth I put on and take off constantly. It’s horrible,” she explained.

Her vision was improving as of earlier this week, per KVOA.

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, greets supporters during a campaign event at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on September 12, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. Former President Donald Trump held a campaign event to speak on the economy.

Two other rallygoers, a brother and sister, offered similar stories.

“It kept getting worse and worse, 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 and it just progressed from there,” the woman said.

Her brother added, “It was all focused on my eyes, my eyes were red like hell you know, it’s unbearable. I couldn’t handle it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Forty-eight people were selected to be onstage with Trump, and they were split up behind him to the left and right,according toNewsweek. None of those seated to the left reported any injuries, per the publication.

“We remain committed to the countless patriots that attend our high-energy, high-impact rallies across the country,” the statement said.

source: people.com