JOHNSTOWN, Pennsylvania — A man at Donald Trump’s rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, stormed into the press area while the former president was speaking and was surrounded by police and sheriff’s deputies before being subdued with a Taser.
Friday’s incident came moments after Trump criticized major media outlets for what he called unfavorable coverage and dismissed CNN as complacent over his interview Thursday with Democratic rival Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz.
It was not immediately clear what motivated the man or whether he was a Trump supporter or critic.
The man managed to climb over a bike rack surrounding the media area and began climbing to the back of a platform where television reporters and cameras were stationed, according to video of the incident posted to social media by a CBS News reporter. People nearby tried to get him off the platform and were quickly joined by police.
The crowd cheered as a group of police officers led the man away, prompting Trump to say: “Is there any place more fun than a Trump rally?”
Moments later, police handcuffed another man in the crowd and removed him from the arena. It is unclear whether the arrest was related to the initial altercation.
The incident came amid heightened security scrutiny at Trump rallies after a gunman shot him, grazing his ear, at an outdoor rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. Security at political events has been significantly tightened since the shooting.
Vicious criticism of the media has been a regular part of Trump’s speeches at rallies, prompting his supporters to turn to the press and boo, often giving the finger to show their disgust at journalists.
