President Trump cheered from the stage on Wednesday night as supporters at his South Carolina midterm rally struck protesters who had heckled him, praising one attendee who appeared to punch a protester being escorted out of the arena.
The rally at Clemson University’s T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton was interrupted repeatedly — a pool report counted at least nine hecklers, while The New York Post reported at least 12. Protesters were removed one by one by security as the crowd chanted “USA.”
In one incident, an attendee who followed a removed demonstrator appeared to strike the protester on the head, according to reports citing video from the arena. Trump reacted with delight from the podium.
“That was great, man. Wow. Man, I loved that,” Trump said. “Who’s the guy that threw that punch? You know, you reminded me of Evander, the real deal Holyfield,” he added, referring to the former heavyweight boxing champion, who was in the audience.
A tight Senate race
Trump was in South Carolina to campaign for Republican Darline Graham, who is running for a full Senate term after being appointed to the seat of her brother, the late Lindsey Graham, who died in July. Graham is in a surprisingly tight race against Democrat Annie Andrews ahead of the Nov. 3 election, in a state Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, according to Reuters.
The chaotic evening, with scuffles breaking out between supporters and protesters, echoed the turbulent rallies of Trump’s 2016 campaign, the Post noted. It was unclear whether either of the attendees who struck protesters was arrested.
Sources: The Guardian; The New York Post; Reuters.
