A man has been charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly threw his cellphone onto the stage during President Donald Trump’s speech at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention on Friday, April 26.
Law enforcement sources told Fox News that the man, identified as William Rose, was charged by the Marion County Sheriff on Friday. They added that Rose was intoxicated at the event.
The incident was first reported after a video was posted to social media, taken by attendee Bradley Brewer, showing a black object flying through the air before landing on the stage as the president was approaching the lectern to make his speech to gun rights supporters at the convention in Indianapolis.
#BREAKING: A phone was thrown at @realDonaldTrump during his introduction at the @NRA convention.
The individual was swiftly arrested and the President continued with no problem. pic.twitter.com/EDcHwNgQl7
— Bradley Brewer (@realBradBrewer) April 26, 2019
When the object landed on the stage and bounced away, the president could be seen turning his head and glancing over. The incident did not appear to affect the president and he proceeded with his speech without delay.
The Secret Service also confirmed the incident to the news broadcaster in a statement on April 26.
“At approximately 12:30 p.m. (ET) today, President Trump was at an event in Indianapolis, IN,” the statement read. “As the President was walking onto the stage, but prior to his remarks, a cell phone from the crowd landed on the opposite side of the stage. An individual was removed from the event and the investigation is continuing.”
Sources said the agency was still investigating whether Rose intended to harm the president, Fox News reported.
Another attendee, Katie Pavlich, also recounted the incident via social media.
“A man threw a cell phone on stage when President Trump walked out for his @nra speech. He threw it stage left, while POTUS was closer to stage right. The man hung around up front for a few minutes, carrying Mt. Dew, as POTUS started remarks and then Secret Service removed him,” Pavlich wrote.
A man threw a cell phone on stage when President Trump walked out for his @nra speech. He threw it stage left, while POTUS was closer to stage right. The man hung around up front for a few minutes, carrying Mt. Dew, as POTUS started remarks and then Secret Service removed him.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) April 26, 2019
Speaking at the convention, Trump defended the Second Amendment and signed an executive order on stage to withdraw the United States from the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
The United States signed on to ATT in 2013 under the Obama administration, but the treaty has not yet been ratified by the Congress. The treaty aims to regulate international trade in conventional weapons, including small arms, battle tanks, combat aircraft, and warships. Trump said the treaty could infringe on U.S. sovereignty and the rights of Americans.
“The United Nations will soon receive a formal notice that America is rejecting this treaty,” said President Trump during his speech to the NRA attendees, and signed the executive order on the podium.
Trump said that the U.S. Senate will stop the ratification process, send the bill back to the White House, and he will then “dispose of it”.
“Under my Administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone. We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your Second Amendment freedoms. And that is why my Administration will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty.” pic.twitter.com/j1xnuUdX1x
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2019
“Under my Administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone. We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your Second Amendment freedoms. And that is why my Administration will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty,” Trump said.
The Epoch Times Reporter Nathan Su contributed to this report.
