Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Politics
USA TODAY Network

Trump tells man at New Hampshire rally to ‘go home, start exercising’

US President Donald Trump speaks during a “Keep America Great” campaign rally at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 15, 2019.  | Getty

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump singled out a man for insults at his Thursday night rally in Manchester, N.H.

But the person the president said had a “serious weight problem” ended up being an enthusiastic Trump supporter – identified by Fox News as Frank Dawson, a former law enforcement officer and Navy veteran.

Trump’s rally had been briefly disrupted by protesters after he criticized Democrats for describing political opponents as “fascists and Nazis.” The rally attendees starting booing the protesters and chanting “USA” as people were escorted out of SNHU Arena.

The Associated Press reported Trump mistakenly insulted a nearby man wearing a “Trump 2020” shirt who was shaking his fist in support as Trump launched into his rant.

“That guy’s got a serious weight problem,” Trump said. “Go home. Start exercising.”

Fox News identified Dawson as the person Trump insulted after the rally. Dawson, in an interview, appeared not to mind Trump’s criticism and defended the president.

“Everything’s good. I love the guy. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to this country,” Dawson told Fox.

Dawson said he’d tried to take away the protesters’ signs.

Trump “didn’t see me rip the signs away from the people,” Dawson said to Fox, before adding, “he thought I was part of it but I wasn’t. I was the good part of it.”

Read more at usatoday.com

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.