Before Donald Trump could take the stage at his rally in Saginaw, Michigan, an unexpected brawl broke out between vendors, including a Black Trump supporter who was attacked by two White men selling pro-Trump merchandise. The altercation, which took place on Thursday, October 3, was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media.
The rally, held at the Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University, was expected to be a typical campaign event, but tensions flared hours before Trump’s appearance. According to reporter Anna Liz Nichols, who covered the incident for Michigan Advance, the fight erupted around 10:20 a.m., in front of a line of over 1,000 people waiting to attend the event. Nichols reported that all those involved in the fight were vendors selling Trump and “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) merchandise.
The now-viral video shows two White men repeatedly attacking a Black Trump supporter, pushing him to the ground and punching him. In the clip, one of the White men jumps on top of the Black man, delivering several blows to his head. The second White man, after initially being held back by another individual, joins in by throwing punches at the Black man’s face. A second Black man can be seen nearby, seemingly trying to intervene before the situation escalates further.
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As the brawl continues, the Black man manages to get up and retaliates, attempting to defend himself by grabbing one of the attackers and throwing punches. However, before the situation could spiral further, security intervened, with a guard tackling the Black man to the ground. More people rushed over, attempting to break up the fight and restore order.
Following the chaotic scene, all of the vendors involved were removed from the premises. In a statement released by the Trump campaign, officials clarified that none of the individuals involved in the brawl were actual rally attendees, but rather vendors selling merchandise outside the venue. The statement read: “The Trump campaign reports that all of the individuals involved in the altercation were vendors, none were attendees and all were ejected from the premises.”
Though the rally continued as planned later in the afternoon, the altercation left a mark on the day, raising questions about the heated atmosphere surrounding political events. As Trump rallies often draw large, passionate crowds, this incident adds another layer to the already intense dynamics of his campaign stops.
