News Analysis · October 29, 2026

Man at Trump Rally Claims He Attended to See a 'Cult'

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Published by: The Daily Beast

Fox News Duped by Anti-MAGA Troll at Trump South Carolina Rally - The Daily Beast — Read the exact original

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At a Trump rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on October 29, 2026, Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson interviewed a man named Tom who claimed he attended the event to see a 'cult' in person. The man referenced the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, where over 900 people died in a mass suicide orchestrated by cult leader Jim Jones. Tomlinson was visibly stunned and quickly switched to another interview, stating the man was not a Trump supporter. The incident was reported by The Daily Beast and confirmed by The Independent — News, both citing the same exchange. The rally was part of Trump’s campaign for Sen. Darline Graham, sister of former Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The exchange has since gone viral, highlighting growing anti-MAGA presence at Trump events. Protesters have previously disrupted rallies in Texas and Ohio, including one where a heckler referenced Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged trafficking network.

Fox News also reported that Trump condemned Democratic candidate Mary Peltola over an Alaska ballot controversy, accusing her of voter fraud. However, this claim was not directly tied to the rally incident.

The Daily Beast and The Independent both independently verified the on-air exchange, confirming the man’s reference to Jonestown and the reporter’s reaction. No official statement from Trump or the rally organizers has been released regarding the incident.

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