Trump praises man who punched protester at rally in South Carolina

US President Donald Trump praised a supporter who punched a protester at a midterm election rally in Clemson, South Carolina, thanking the man even as the protester was being removed from the venue.

The confrontation unfolded at Trump's campaign rally on Thursday. When a protester interrupted the event and was being escorted out by security, a man in the audience struck the protester. Trump acknowledged the assailant from the stage, praising his actions to cheers from the crowd, according to video of the incident published on October 22.

The South Carolina rally is part of Trump's midterm campaign swing, with the president headlining events for Republican candidates in the final stretch before the elections. Thursday's gathering drew an enthusiastic crowd — until the interruption briefly shifted the spotlight from the campaign message.

The incident highlighted the charged atmosphere surrounding the president's campaign appearances. Trump frequently uses his rallies to single out hecklers and protesters, and the Clemson exchange quickly became a talking point after footage of the praise circulated online.

Details about the protester, including their identity and condition, were not immediately disclosed. The man who threw the punch, meanwhile, was celebrated by the president on stage — a moment that drew cheers from supporters and renewed scrutiny of Trump's rhetoric toward demonstrators at his events.