Full Breakdown
Viral Trolling at Donald Trump Rally in South Carolina
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Incident
During a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson interviewed a man who identified himself only as “Tom.” When asked why he was present, Tom replied, “Well, in the late 70s, I was a little too young to get involved and go to South America for the Jonestown Massacre, but this is as close as I’ll ever get, so that’s why I’m here.” The reporter, unaware that Tom was not a Trump supporter, was visibly taken aback before moving on to another interviewee. The exchange quickly spread online, becoming a viral example of on-stage trolling.
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Related reporting
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Trump rally attendee trolls Fox News reporter in South Carolina
02
Context of the Rally
Trump’s appearance was part of a mid-term campaign push for Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and is seeking a full six-year term. The South Carolina Senate race has been described as unusually competitive, with Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews challenging Graham. The rally took place amid a broader GOP blitz that included planned stops in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska and other battleground states.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Public Reaction
Commentators on social media and in opinion pieces praised Tom’s stunt. The incident was also highlighted by the outlet NewsOne as a “master class in in-person trolling.”
04
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, in the late 70s, I was a little too young to get involved and go to South America for the Jonestown Massacre, but this is as close as I’ll ever get, so that’s why I’m here.” — Confused
- “That’s right. There’s nothing like seeing a cult right up front, man.” — Jim Jones. Tom
- “This is genuinely one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen” — Alex Cole
- “This is like watching a perfect quarterback fake, when the entire defense gets fooled and he just strolls into the endzone” — Writer Brian Gaar
05
What’s Next
Trump cancelled a scheduled in-person rally in Kansas and will instead hold a series of virtual events as the November mid-term elections approach. The viral clip continues to circulate as voters head to the polls.