Trump praises Rep. Greg Gianforte for body-slamming Guardian reporter calls him my guy

At a campaign rally in Missoula, Montana for Rep. Greg Gianforte, President Trump openly praises Gianforte's May 24, 2017 physical assault on Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs, who was asking a policy question. Gianforte body-slammed Jacobs, breaking his glasses and causing bruising; Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault and sentenced to 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management, and a $385 fine. Trump tells the crowd: "Any guy who can do a body-slam — he's my guy." The crowd cheers. Trump adds: "He's a great person and a great congressman." The assault on Jacobs took place the day before Gianforte won a special election to Congress. The White House Correspondents Association, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Trump's praise as a direct endorsement of violence against journalists. The remarks are the first time a sitting U.S. president explicitly praised a political figure for assaulting a member of the press.