Trump says protester who rushed him has ISIS ties

On social media, the businessman-turned-candidate thanked the Secret Service agents who jumped up on stage to protect him from the perceived threat. Trump said the man who was quickly escorted out should be behind bars.

“USSS did an excellent job stopping the maniac running to the stage. He has ties to ISIS. Should be in jail!”, Trump tweeted with a video purportedly showing the man’s connection to the Islamic State.

Later, during Trump’s third rally of the day in Kansas City, Mo., the media mogul said the guy was a “tough cookie” and that he would have tried to fight the protester if he had to, but wasn’t sure he could win.

The protester put on a “bull rush” from behind the stage, Trump said. He added that the protester jumped over a railing, while the man’s girlfriend in the back screaming “like a total maniac.”

That’s when the Secret Service stepped in to protect Trump.

“So you got this guy out there, he’s ISIS-related. All sorts of stuff back and fourth. And I’m saying to myself, “Who would let a guy — what country would let a guy” — and I mean to tell you, he went through and he was a tough cookie, and he came through that thing, and if these guys weren’t trained, tough, tough, strong professionals, he would have gotten through easily. Okay? They were all over him,” Trump said of the Secret Service.

“Man did he get taken down. He got taken down like a sack of potatoes, wah!” Trump said while gesturing a take down with his arm. “The Secret Service, they were so incredible. But now the judge let’s him go, and now they find out he’s ISIS-related or could be ISIS-related.”

It was reported later that the video was likely doctored as part of a hoax, which included footage from a student protest at Wright State University. The version Trump shared seems to have been overlaid with Arabic words and music.

The man who tried rushing the stage, was identified as Thomas Dimassimo, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and inducing panic, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office said. It was unclear if Dimassimo entered a plea or has an attorney, ABC News reported, and according to records, his next court date is March 14.

It is not clear if Dimissimo has ties to the Islamic State. Trump did not elaborate on his claim.

A correspondent for CBS Radio News tweeted that the Secret Service told news outlet that it has no information on a link between Dimissimo and the Islamic State.