A rally-goer likened a Donald Trump event to the Jonestown massacre, catching a Fox News reporter off guard.
Key points
- A rally attendee explicitly likened the Trump event to the Jonestown cult tragedy.
- The comparison caused a moment of discomfort for the Fox News reporter conducting the interview.
- The rally was tied to the upcoming Senate race between Darline Graham and Annie Andrews.
During a Donald Trump rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a Fox News field reporter’s routine question took an abrupt turn when a man in the crowd compared the gathering to a cult, specifically referencing the 1978 Jonestown massacre.
Reporter Lucas Tomlinson asked the attendee, identified only as Tom, why he had come to see Trump. Tom replied that he was there to witness a “cult” up close, noting that while he was too young to have been involved in Jonestown, the rally was the nearest experience he could imagine.
Unexpected comparison
He repeated the comparison, describing the event as “nothing like seeing a cult right up front,” and was dressed in a bright yellow shirt printed with the word “DEATH,” a visual detail noted by the reporter.
Tomlinson appeared startled, echoing the phrase “the Jonestown massacre?” to confirm what he heard, then suggested that Tom might not be a Trump supporter before moving on to another interviewee.
Reporter’s reaction
The rally was part of President Trump’s campaign stop in South Carolina ahead of the midterm elections, where Republican Sen. Darline Graham is contesting a close race against Democrat Annie Andrews.
The incident underscores how political gatherings can provoke unpredictable and provocative commentary, and it highlights the sensitivity of invoking historic tragedies in contemporary political discourse.
Reader questions
What did the rally attendee say about the Trump event?
He said the rally was the closest thing to seeing a cult in person and referenced the Jonestown massacre of 1978.
How did the Fox News reporter respond?
Reporter Lucas Tomlinson repeated the Jonestown reference to verify it, expressed surprise, and then suggested the interviewee might not support Trump before moving on.
Why is the rally significant beyond this exchange?
It was part of President Trump’s campaign stop in South Carolina ahead of a competitive Senate race between Republican Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews.
Source: yahoo.com
