Man mistaken for protester who is mocked over his weight at Trump rally turns out to be supporter: 'I love the guy'
President Donald Trump stirred up controversy after body shaming an audience member at a recent rally. Trump thought the man was a protester and commented on his appearance as the man was escorted out of the venue by security.
“That guy’s got a serious weight problem,” said President Trump. “Go home. Start exercising,” he added as the crowd cheered.
But it was later revealed that the man, Frank Dawson, wasn’t a protester at all, but a supporter of Trump.
During an interview with Griff Jenkins on Fox News, Dawson explained the confusion. He noted that, although he wasn’t a protester, he was sitting next to some. “He didn’t see me rip the signs away from those three people that were sitting near us. They were trying to make a ruckus,” said Dawson.
He added, “They jumped up and started yelling something, I don’t even care what they were yelling about, but that wasn’t going to happen beside me because I was trying to listen to my president. I think he thought I was a part of it, but I wasn’t. I was the good part of it!”
Dawson laughed off the president’s comments about his weight, saying, “Everything’s good. I love the guy. He’s the best thing that ever happened to this country.”
Despite Dawson’s continued support of the President despite his comments about Dawson’s appearance, many on Twitter felt Trump crossed the line:
First off, the President (@realDonaldTrump) fat shaming anyone is wrong. and hypocritical. But fat shaming one of his own supports? No that adds a layer of hilarity to it.
— GuinnessDog (@GuinnessDog) August 16, 2019
#45 has the nerve to fat shame and humiliate anyone much less one of his supporters! Everyone is ok with this saying "Trump being Trump!" He's insulting! He should be concerned about his own body image and his own lack of discipline! #BodyShaming
— Patricia (@ChkUOut) August 16, 2019
Trump had the gall to fat shamed anyone? Seriously?
— Kevin Cloud Blockchain (@KevinNay) August 16, 2019
Other viewers defended Trump, and some said he may have actually helped Dawson with his comments:
Hopefully President Trump saved that protester life. Everyone knows the health risks associated with being obese. It's called tough love, and now that protester has the incentive to lose weight. Thank you Donald Trump for caring enough for that protester health.
— Joseph Cyran (@CyranJoseph) August 16, 2019
He expressed concern for the health of a stranger. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US.
— Judge Smails (@JudgeElihuSmail) August 16, 2019
Telling someone overweight to start exercising is bad?
— Stefan (@blanc027) August 16, 2019
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