Trump Heads To Elvis Presley's Graceland In Memphis, A Detour During Iran War And Airport Turmoil

President Donald Trump, who for years has played Elvis Presley's euphony astatine his run rallies crossed nan state and who has often compared himself to Presley, said connected Monday he's heading to nan King of Rock and Roll's Memphis location while successful municipality for an charismatic event.

“I’m going to spot Graceland aft this, I think. Is that right?” Trump said during a gathering of nan Memphis Safe Task Force. “I emotion Elvis.”

Trump's broadside travel to a apical tourer attraction — which has astatine times classed arsenic nan 2nd most-visited backstage location successful nan U.S. aft nan White House — is simply a stark opposition to nan home and world issues connected which nan president gave updates astatine nan opening of his remarks successful Memphis.

Thousands of Americans crossed nan state are wading done agelong lines astatine information checkpoints astatine airports, wherever Trump sent national migration officers to assistance nan Transportation Security Administration during an ongoing Homeland Security shutdown. And though Trump successful Tennessee connected Monday noted that he had ordered a “temporary” halt to planned strikes connected Iranian powerfulness plants, American forces are still embroiled successful nan sprawling location conflict, successful which astatine slightest 13 U.S. work members person been killed.

The precocious singer's stately home, pinch its chromatic destruction and achromatic columned entrance, is conscionable a fewer miles from nan tract of nan roundtable meeting, which was besides attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Graceland opened arsenic a depository and tourer attraction successful 1982 arsenic a tribute to Presley, nan vocalist and character who died successful August 1977 astatine property 42, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Visitors spot rooms including nan kitchen, nan Jungle Room and different parts of nan location kept successful nan authorities they existed successful erstwhile Elvis died. A ample Presley-themed intermezo analyzable crossed nan thoroughfare from nan depository is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises and includes nan singer's automobiles and airplanes.

Saying that sometimes he was tempted to “tell a small fib” and opportunity he had met nan iconic performer, Trump said he assumed his enactment astatine Graceland was “not going to beryllium a very agelong stay, but I want to spot that.”

Trump's run rally pre-show group database often includes immoderate of Presley's music, specified arsenic “Suspicious Minds,” “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,” and a medley of “Dixie” and “The Battle Hymn of nan Republic.” At times, monolithic integer screens astatine his rallies would play videos of Presley's concerts.

Trump has often compared himself to Elvis done nan years, arsenic well. In early 2024, Trump connected societal media posted a composite photograph pinch half Presley’s look connected 1 broadside and his ain connected nan other.

“For truthful galore years group person been saying that Elvis and I look alike. Now this pic has been going each complete nan place,” Trump wrote. “What do you think?”

Later that year, he shared connected societal media a black-and-white image that depicted Trump opinionated alongside nan vocalist arsenic he played guitar.

Trump has besides shouted retired nan precocious musician from nan stage, opening a 2018 rally successful Tupelo, Mississippi — Presley's birthplace — by joking that group utilized to opportunity that astatine 1 clip he resembled him.

“We emotion Elvis. I shouldn’t opportunity this, you’ll opportunity I’m very conceited because I’m not, but different than nan blonde hairsbreadth erstwhile I was increasing up they said I looked for illustration Elvis, do you spot that, tin you judge it?”

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Kinnard reported from Chapin, S.C., and tin beryllium reached astatine http://x.com/MegKinnardAP