Trump Cheers Rally Attendee Who Apparently Punched Protester in South Carolina

President Donald Trump praised a rally attendee who apparently punched a protester at a campaign event at Clemson University in South Carolina on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. Several demonstrators were removed from the arena during the event, and the president was interrupted repeatedly by hecklers.

The episode came as Trump steps up his travel in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with protests following him from stop to stop.

What happened at the Clemson rally

Multiple protesters were escorted out by security guards during the rally, The Guardian reported. According to a pool report cited by the outlet, Trump was interrupted at least nine times by hecklers. The crowd chanted “USA” as the demonstrators were led away.

In one case, a rally attendee followed a protester who had been removed by security and appeared to slap the demonstrator on the head, according to The Guardian. The outlet described that protester as having been apparently punched.

How Trump responded

From the stage, Trump reacted with enthusiasm. He said he had watched the incident and called it great, incredible and unbelievable, and he asked whether everyone was all right. He then asked who had thrown the punch and compared the attendee to former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who was also at the rally, The Guardian reported.

The president went on to say the person deserved credit, telling the crowd that “It takes courage to do that at a Trump rally.” He also said the protester had been hit.

The political backdrop

Trump traveled to South Carolina to support Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly in July from a heart condition, according to The Guardian. Darline Graham won her brother’s seat in a special election and is now seeking a full six-year term. Her Democratic challenger is Annie Andrews.

The Guardian reported that protests have frequently broken out at Trump rallies in recent weeks as the president has added campaign stops. Trump often dismisses the demonstrations as the work of “paid protesters,” the outlet said.

Why it matters for voters heading into November

The rally is part of what The Guardian described as a 32-day campaign blitz that has mostly taken Trump to Republican-leaning areas he won comfortably in earlier elections. The outlet said that pattern underscores the challenge Republicans face as they try to keep control of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

For voters, the picture is one of a president spending the closing weeks of the campaign in friendly territory while facing public pushback at his events. The Guardian also pointed to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, released Monday, which found that 31% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in office. The outlet described that figure as a record low for him.

The clash in South Carolina also shows how the president has chosen to talk about confrontations at his events. Rather than distancing himself from the reported punch, he publicly applauded it in front of the crowd, according to the account. Reuters contributed reporting to The Guardian’s story.

What to watch before Election Day

With the midterms set for Nov. 3, the campaign schedule is still running. The Guardian said Trump has ramped up his stops in the final weeks, and protests have frequently erupted at them. Whether the Clemson episode draws a response from local authorities was not disclosed in the report.

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian