Trump Praises Supporter for Punching Heckler as a Dozen Protesters Disrupt Clemson Rally
At least 12 hecklers interrupted President Trump's rally at Clemson University on Wednesday night, and two were assaulted on camera by rally-goers whom the president praised from the stage.
President Donald Trump praised a rally-goer who punched a heckler during a campaign rally at Clemson University on Wednesday night, as at least 12 protesters repeatedly interrupted the event.
The incident unfolded at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, S.C., where Trump had traveled to support appointed Sen. Darline Graham’s bid for a full six-year term. After sheriff’s deputies removed a young male protester, Trump called out the older supporter who had struck him. “Who’s the guy that threw the punch? You are!” he said from the stage. “You reminded me of Evander ‘the Real Deal’ Holyfield,” he added, referring to the four-time heavyweight boxing champion, who was in attendance.
Trump praised the man from the stage. “They don’t realize it’s really dangerous to do that,” he said of heckling. “It takes courage to do that at a Trump rally. He got whacked.” In an earlier confrontation, a man in a suit and tie was followed outside the expo center’s main floor and smacked on the head by another older man. The Post reported it was unclear whether either assailant was arrested.
Senate race draws the president to South Carolina
The rally was called to boost Graham, who was appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham’s seat in July and is now seeking a full term. Trump spent much of the evening attacking her Democratic opponent, pediatrician Annie Andrews, who is polling surprisingly well in the deeply conservative state, according to the Post.
Trump claimed Andrews “supports giving sex toys and other obscene materials to seriously confuse young people and children.” Her campaign did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment. Andrews told Forbes last month: “I don’t support biological men playing in women’s sports and I also don’t support and have never performed gender surgery on minors.”
A pledge of $5,000 and complaints about timing
Trump also used the evening to tout a promise of a $5,000 payment to every American if Republicans keep control of Congress, along with new tax cuts and what he described as dramatic reductions in illegal immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border.
But the persistent heckling kept pulling the night off script. “It’s always right at my punchline,” Trump said. “I’ve had three punchlines, and three of them — they time them beautifully.”
Reporting based on coverage by the New York Post.
