Man storms press area at Donald Trump rally in Johnstown, subdued with taser amid security concerns (WATCH)

In a dramatic turn of events at a rally held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, a man forcefully entered the press area while former President Donald Trump was addressing the crowd.

Sunita Iyer

First Published Aug 31, 2024, 10:32 AM IST | Last Updated Aug 31, 2024, 10:32 AM IST

In a dramatic turn of events at a rally held in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, a man forcefully entered the press area while former President Donald Trump was addressing the crowd. The incident occurred as Trump was delivering remarks, and it quickly escalated into a confrontation involving law enforcement.

According to reports and video footage captured by a CBS News reporter, the intruder breached a bicycle rack that demarcated the media section and began climbing a riser where television reporters and cameras were positioned. The footage shows the man being surrounded almost immediately by police and sheriff’s deputies. Despite efforts to manage the situation, the confrontation intensified until the man was subdued with a Taser.

The disturbance unfolded shortly after Trump had delivered a scathing critique of major media outlets. In his speech, Trump specifically targeted CNN for what he described as biased coverage, citing a recent interview with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as an example of unfair reporting. As the man was led away by police, the crowd’s response was notably enthusiastic, with many cheering the police intervention. This prompted Trump to exclaim, “Is there anywhere that’s more fun to be than a Trump rally?”

In a related development, shortly after the initial altercation, police detained and handcuffed another man in the crowd. He was escorted out of the arena, although it remains unclear whether this detention was related to the earlier incident involving the intruder.

This series of events occurred under heightened scrutiny of security at Trump rallies, a consequence of a recent shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that event, a gunman fired at Trump, grazing his ear, which has led to an increase in security measures at political events nationwide.

The motivations behind the man’s actions at the Johnstown rally remain uncertain, as does whether he was a supporter or critic of Trump. It is common for Trump’s rallies to feature strong criticism of the media, which often incites negative reactions from his supporters. Such incidents usually lead to booing and other disparaging gestures directed at journalists.

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