During a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, a man breached the press area as former President Donald Trump was delivering a speech. The man managed to climb over a bicycle rack surrounding the media section and began scaling the back of a riser where television reporters and cameras were stationed. He was quickly subdued by police and sheriff’s deputies, who used a Taser to restrain him.
The altercation occurred shortly after Trump criticized major media outlets for what he described as biased coverage, specifically targeting CNN for its recent interview with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. The crowd erupted in cheers as police escorted the man away, with Trump quipping, “Is there anywhere that’s more fun to be than a Trump rally?”
A second man was later handcuffed and removed from the crowd by police, though it remains unclear if this was connected to the initial incident.
The event took place against the backdrop of heightened security at Trump rallies, following a recent assassination attempt where a gunman fired at Trump, grazing his ear, during a rally in nearby Butler, Pennsylvania. Security measures at political events have been notably increased since the shooting.
It remains uncertain what motivated the man or whether he was a supporter or critic of Trump. Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward the media is a frequent feature of his rallies, often inciting his supporters to boo the press, with some making offensive gestures toward journalists.