Multiple protesters were removed from a Trump rally in Ohio after confrontations with police, including an incident in which a man wearing a “Release the Epstein Files” shirt was punched and dragged from the arena.
The disruption took place on Monday night as Donald Trump campaigned in Youngstown ahead of the midterm elections. Hecklers have repeatedly interrupted the former president’s rallies during his efforts to defend Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
Trump’s speech was briefly halted as the protester was escorted out. He claimed the man was a paid demonstrator, saying: “He’s a paid protester, they’re all paid. They get paid by the lefties in order to destroy our country.”
He added: “They’re scum but he’s going home to mom!” Trump then mocked the protester’s appearance, saying: “Oh, he’s gotta’ go on a diet. He’s a fat guy, wow. Wow. Gotta’ go on a diet fast. We all do.”
The president also repeated a joke he has used at previous rallies, telling the crowd that the protesters’ “mother and father voted for me”. The remark was met with loud applause.
A separate and more forceful confrontation occurred earlier in the evening while Ohio Senator Jon Husted was speaking. A man and a woman were seen being dragged away, with a punch appearing to be thrown during the incident.
The crowd cheered as the pair were escorted from the Covelli Centre. Another protester, draped in a Mexican flag, was also removed from the venue.
At the rally, Trump urged voters to support Husted and praised the former college football player’s athletic build. Husted is facing a challenge from former senator Sherrod Brown in a contest described as a close race.
Husted, who was appointed in 2024 to replace JD Vance after Vance ran for vice-president, attacked Brown’s long career in public office.
“He’s been in office for over 50 years. Can you name one thing he´s done to make your life better?” Husted asked the Youngstown crowd.
Brown first entered office in 1975 as a member of Ohio’s statehouse and later served in Washington for three decades. The Republican senator’s difficulties in a state that Trump won in each of his three campaigns reflect the challenge facing the party in the election.
Trump also endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy, who is campaigning to become Ohio governor against Democrat Dr Amy Acton, the state’s former Covid-era health director.
Ramaswamy had been expected to benefit from his conservative profile and strong backing among Ohio Republicans. However, despite a major fundraising advantage and more than $12 million spent on campaign advertising, he is in a close contest with Acton weeks before polling day.
Speaking before Trump arrived, Ramaswamy said: “I’m so grateful to this state and to this country for giving a kid like me opportunities that would not have been available to my family in any other country on planet earth.”
Trump praised Ramaswamy shortly afterwards, despite acknowledging that he had been “nasty” during their Republican primary contest.
The Ohio visit came as Trump began what he described as a 32-day campaign blitz before the November 3 elections, following several days of campaigning in safely conservative states.
