A Fox News reporter got an unexpected answer while speaking with a man at a Donald Trump rally in South Carolina. The man said he came to see what he called a “cult” in person. His comment left the reporter surprised and made the interview awkward. The moment took an unexpected turn as the reporter tried to find another person to interview.
Donald Trump rallygoer trolls Fox News with Jonestown Massacre comparison
Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson spoke with a man named Tom at the rally in Rock Hill on Thursday. Tomlinson asked what brought him out to see Trump, but Tom did not offer the support the reporter may have expected. Instead, he brought up the Jonestown Massacre from 1978. “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,” Tom said as per TMZ.
Tomlinson appeared stunned by the answer and repeated the words “the Jonestown Massacre?” to make sure he heard correctly. Tom stood by his comment and explained why he attended the event. “That’s right. It’s nothing like seeing a cult right up front, man,” he told the reporter. Tomlinson then suggested that the man might not support Trump before trying to continue the interview elsewhere.
The Jonestown reference was in a darker context because the events of 1978 left over 900 people dead in Guyana. Cult leader Jim Jones led the group involved in the mass deaths. Tom’s choice of clothing also offered a striking clue about his views, as he wore a bright yellow shirt with the word “DEATH” printed across it. The exchange quickly turned into an uncomfortable moment for the Fox News reporter.
Trump traveled to South Carolina to rally support for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who faces Democrat Annie Andrews in a close race ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. Tomlinson had approached Tom while looking for a rallygoer to discuss the president’s visit. Instead, the interview provided a powerful contrast, one that never seemed like it was in support of Trump.