President Donald Trump‘s Wednesday night rally in South Carolina was interrupted by at least six protesters in the opening 20 minutes.
Trump was stopped by a string of disruptions as he stumped for the late Senator Lindsey Graham‘s sister Darline Graham, the President’s handpicked replacement for him in the US Senate.
The President also doubled down Wednesday in his attacks on Darline Graham’s Democratic opponent Annie Andrews, whom he has nicknamed ‘Tranny Annie,’ for her alleged support of pro-transgender policies.
Trump addressed the protesters directly as well, claiming that they were ‘all paid.’
‘It’s all paid for. They’re a bunch of losers. They’re terrible people. They’re terrible. The people that pay them are sick, and they want to destroy our country,’ Trump continued.
The President then urged his supporters to turn out to vote, reiterating the need to pretend that he was on the ballot.
‘In this election, I’m asking you to pretend I’m on the ballot because when I’m on the ballot, we get 29 percent more votes, all three times,’ Trump added.
A few minutes later, another protester stood up directly in front of Trump.
A member of the audience supportive of Trump then appears to have punched the protester, which earned the supporter Trump’s praise.
President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at the T. Ed Garrison Arena, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Pendleton, South Carolina
A protester is removed from a rally hosted by US President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections, at T. Ed Garrison Arena at Clemson University, in Pendleton, South Carolina, US, October 21, 2026
Trump reacted to the scuffle from the stage, first checking to make sure everyone in the crowd was OK.
‘That was incredible,’ Trump said. ‘Who threw that punch?’
‘The guy stood up, and he just let that little, and he got whacked, man,’ Trump continued.
Trump praised the supporter who seemingly landed the punch, likening him to ‘Evander Holyfield,’ an American former professional boxing champion who competed from 1984 to 2011. Holyfield is attending the rally in support of Trump and Graham.
At a campaign event earlier this month, Andrews responded to Trump’s slur attacking her, noting that the name was a ‘distraction.’
‘If name calling would help lower gas prices and grocery prices, he can call me all the names he wants,’ Andrews also stated at the time.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for more updates.
