Former President Donald Trump entertained journalists traveling with him on Air Force One by playing music from his personal playlist on his return flight from Ireland. The gesture occurred during the trip back on Sunday, according to a White House pool report.
A flight attendant brought a large speaker into the press cabin, playing songs from a playlist titled "APPROVED RALLY PLAYLIST." The eclectic mix included Dolly Parton's "Jolene," Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me," The Undertaker's WWE entrance music, Cat Stevens' "Wild World," R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion," The Who's "Teenage Wasteland," Luciano Pavarotti's "Nessun Dorma," ABBA's "Fernando," and Guns N' Roses' "November Rain."
About 40 minutes into the music, Trump visited the press cabin to inquire about their enjoyment of the music. "I just wanted to make sure everyone’s OK with the music, right?" he asked. When a journalist responded, "We love you, Mr. President," Trump stated he was playing the music to make them happy.
He also spoke about Dolly Parton, calling her "the greatest" and lamenting her recent death. "I love music. I love good music. That’s what keeps me happy, because with my life, it’s a very interesting thing. But I love music," Trump told the reporters.
Trump's attempt to keep the interaction focused on music was brief, as he soon answered questions on other topics, including his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.