A crowd at Vice President JD Vance’s campaign rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina, chanted “USA” as a protester was removed from the event Monday after interrupting.
The protester stood up and yelled, "Release the Epstein files," and, “God, bless our children,” before being removed by security.
As he was being removed, Vance looked on as the crowd began chanting, "USA."
Vance responded immediately following the disruption.
“I said that we have had zero illegal border crossings in the United States,” Vance said as the crowd clapped and laughed, adding, “But one isn’t bad right?”
“We know what the guy yelling at us, behind us stood for. And we know what the far left Democrats like Don Davis stand for,” Vance continued. “They stand for the idea that your government exists for fraudsters or criminals or illegal aliens. When we know the American government exists for American citizens.”
The rally was held in Hendersonville on October 19, with Vance campaigning in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Republican congressional candidate Jennifer Balkcom.
Newsweek reached out to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Vance, Balkcom and Whatley by email Monday for comment.
The disruption came one week after a scuffle broke out at President Donald Trump’s October 12 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, where video showed a female protester being pushed down before law enforcement removed her.
Vance’s Hendersonville visit is part of a broader Republican midterm campaign blitz that will also bring President Donald Trump to Greenville as the party seeks to boost GOP candidates in competitive House and Senate races ahead of Election Day.
Both Trump and Vance began an intensive campaign push in early October as Republicans faced declining poll numbers as the midterms approached. Trump has described the move as a 32-day blitz through Election Day on November 3.
In North Carolina specifically, Republicans are trying to gain ground in the state's Senate race as well as two competitive House races.
Trump is also campaigning in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Tennessee, Ohio, Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Georgia and Kentucky. Vance has separately campaigned in Florida, Texas and North Carolina.
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Protester Removed
The protester stood up directly behind Vance, holding a North Carolina flag sign before yelling.
He was wearing a plain gray t-shirt and the crowd stared as he stood up.
The individual continued yelling as he was escorted away by security.
“The unfortunate reality, ladies and gentlemen, is that the people the Democrats have put up against Michael and Jennifer, they’re props,” Vance said following the removal.
Referring to the protester, Vance added: “That guy doesn’t know what he’s hollered about. He’s the person who did exactly what he was told.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Geoffrey Rowland.