GSM gold starGSM Global
中文版 · Chinese

Follow-Up: Trump's Clemson Rally Interrupted Repeatedly: A Protester Was Hit by an Attendee and Trump Praised the Punch From the Podium

Thursday, October 22, 2026 · White House · GSM News

President Donald Trump's rally for Senator Darline Graham at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Arena in South Carolina on the evening of October 21 was repeatedly interrupted by protesters. According to the press pool report, there were at least nine interruptions and several protesters were escorted out by security; one protester being removed was struck by a rally attendee.

According to The Guardian, Trump praised the punch from the podium, asked who had thrown it, and compared the man to former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who was also present; in a separate moment, another protester being led away was slapped on the head by an attendee who followed him. The New York Post reported that at least 12 hecklers were removed and two were hit. As of publication, neither the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Clemson University, nor either campaign had issued an official statement about the hitting, and no arrest had been officially confirmed.

Trump described the protesters at the rally as "paid protesters." According to Reuters, the South Carolina Senate race has tightened: Darline Graham is the sister of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly of a heart condition in July; she won a special election to succeed her brother and is now seeking a full six-year term against Democratic challenger Annie Andrews.

The rally was one stop in Trump's campaign swing ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, and GSM had published a preview of the event. GSM will continue to follow developments in this incident.

Related: Trump to Rally for Graham in Tight South Carolina Senate Race

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: Clemson University 的 Memorial Stadium。照片:Ken Lund 摄,CC BY-SA 2.0,经维基共享资源,资料图/Memorial Stadium at Clemson University. Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (file photo)

Story Timeline
  1. 2026-10-21Trump Rallies Tonight at Clemson for Sen. Darline Graham: South Carolina Senate Race Tightens
  2. 2026-10-22Follow-Up: Trump's Clemson Rally Interrupted Repeatedly: A Protester Was Hit by an Attendee and Trump Praised the Punch From the PodiumThis story
Latest in White House