Trump on Gianforte Body-Slamming Reporter: ‘He’s My Kind of Guy’

At a Montana rally on Thursday night, President Trump praised Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) for body-slamming Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs in 2017. “Greg is smart, and by the way, never wrestle him,” Trump said. “Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of guy.” The crowd cheered, and the president did a body-flipping motion behind the podium. He then described hearing about the incident and said he thought Gianforte was “going to lose the election.” “Then I said, ‘Well, wait a minute. I know Montana pretty well. I think it might help him,’ and it did.” Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault last year after he slammed into Jacobs on the eve of Montana’s special election, breaking the reporter’s glasses and reportedly yelling, “Get the hell out of here.”