Donald Trump spoke at a rally in upstate South Carolina on Wednesday night for Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), and hecklers interrupted him again and again. Officers removed a string of them from the room.
At least two protesters appeared to be hit by rally-goers, according to Raw Story and other outlets. After a supporter appeared to punch one, Trump praised him from the stage. "He got whacked!" Trump said, according to Mediaite, the Associated Press and Fox Carolina. Mediaite also quoted him saying, "Wow, thank you!… That was great."
The New York Post, as reposted by Jingletree (the original page was not reviewed), called the scuffles unusual for a Trump event and compared them to the rowdier gatherings of his 2016 campaign. The "royal rumble" framing is the Post's.
Six Interruptions in Ten Minutes
Fox Carolina reported that Trump took the stage at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton at about 7:08 p.m. Citing the White House press pool, the station said hecklers interrupted him six times in the first ten minutes. Reports described the venue in several ways, including Clemson University, an expo center and a livestock arena. These probably refer to the same site.
The overall count depends on who is counting. The Post put the number at at least 12. The AP said about ten protesters interrupted during the first half hour. About 20 minutes in, officers removed three more, Fox Carolina reported. One shouted "traitor" and another shouted "release the Epstein files." The AP and Fox Carolina both reported that the crowd chanted "USA!" after removals.
The AP also reported that dozens of anti-Trump protesters lined the road to the arena before the rally.
The Punch, and Trump's Reaction
Mediaite reported that the punch came while Trump was talking about immigration. It said police rushed in to restrain the supporter and the protester was escorted out. The man who threw the punch appeared to stay inside. The AP described one of the last interruptions as causing "a bit of a melee on the floor."
The Post reported that an earlier heckler in a suit and tie was followed off the main floor of the expo center, where another older man smacked him on the head. According to the Post, two protesters were assaulted on camera, and a male protester was taken away by sheriff's deputies. Mediaite and the AP said the punch "appeared" to happen.
"Who's the guy that threw the punch? You are!" Trump said, as quoted by the Post. The Post also reported that he likened the older puncher to Evander "the Real Deal" Holyfield, who attended the rally.
Claims of Paid Protesters
Raw Story reported that Trump described the protesters as outsiders paid $250. He offered no evidence for that claim. Mediaite reported that he called the hecklers "paid protesters" and said "They're a bunch of fakers." Raw Story reported that he called one protester a "lunatic."
Mediaite reported that one interruption came while Trump was talking about Lindsey Graham and his sister, Sen. Darline Graham. Mediaite calls Lindsey Graham "late," a description we have not verified, and the family relationship has not been independently confirmed here.
What Is Still Unknown
Several basic questions remain open. The Post reported that it was unclear whether either attendee who struck a protester was arrested. Injuries are unknown. The people involved have not been publicly identified. No statement from the sheriff's office, police or the campaigns has been found.
The next things to watch are any statements from sheriff's deputies or Clemson police about charges, any identification of the people involved, and reaction from Democrats and the Graham campaign.
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