President Donald Trump’s planned Oval Office address was abruptly postponed Thursday evening after one of his senior advisers collapsed beside him during the live broadcast. The incident briefly interrupted national television coverage and prompted an immediate medical response inside the White House.
The address, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, was intended to unveil the America First Innovation Act—a major policy initiative aimed at reducing regulations on artificial intelligence and boosting U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Moments after Trump began outlining the proposal, his longtime economic adviser, Dr. Elias Hargrove, 58, suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest.
Secret Service agents quickly moved to assist, and medical personnel were called in as the live feed cut to a “Technical Difficulties” screen. Trump was escorted from the room and later released a short message on his Truth Social account:
“A terrible thing happened to a great patriot tonight. Prayers for Elias—he’s tough, he’ll bounce back stronger. Announcement RESCHEDULED for tomorrow. God bless America.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Hargrove was conscious and undergoing evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She said the episode was linked to a “pre-existing cardiac condition exacerbated by stress,” and described his condition as non-life-threatening.
The postponement briefly affected financial markets. U.S. tech stocks fell between 1% and 2% in after-hours trading amid uncertainty about the timing of the policy announcement, which analysts say could channel more than $500 billion into domestic chip manufacturing over the next decade.
Opposition leaders reacted swiftly. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Innovation shouldn’t come at the cost of health—slow down, Mr. President.” Supporters, meanwhile, shared messages of encouragement using the hashtag #PrayForElias, commending Trump for his response.
Dr. Hargrove, a Harvard-trained economist and key figure in Trump’s economic team, has been credited with shaping trade and tariff policies during the administration’s first term. His condition and recovery are expected to influence both the timing and tone of the rescheduled announcement.
According to White House officials, the president will deliver the address Friday at noon with a smaller team present. Aides suggested the speech may include a new focus on medical technology and health-related innovation in light of the incident.
