Georgia Student’s Trump Rally Impersonation Gains Viral Attention

2 weeks ago 0

Rylan Ferguson, who stands at 7 feet tall, mimicked Donald Trump during a rally in Georgia, sparking viral interest. He describes his impersonation as respectful and not meant to mock the president. Ferguson, a self-described extrovert, explained that his actions were a ‘sincere form of flattery’ during an interview.

‘I was very comfortable,’ Ferguson, a 21-year-old finance junior at the University of Alabama, shared with Newsweek. He graduated from Wheeler High School, where Trump spoke, two years prior. Lightheartedly, he mentioned, ‘My friends were sitting right beside me and because of that, I felt very comfortable.’

Ferguson recalled that he was having fun and did not realize he was prominently shown on camera during his impersonation. ‘At the end of the day, I was just having fun with it,’ he added, addressing the attention received from friends and the media.

As someone known for his Trump impersonation among friends, Ferguson emphasized he had no intentions to take over the rally. A native of Marietta, Georgia, he felt compelled to attend the event upon learning Trump would visit his former high school. ‘A sitting president coming to your high school—that just doesn’t happen every day,’ he pointed out.

Ferguson identifies as politically independent and hopes for a chance to meet Trump. He noted that while the incident was widespread, he expects the excitement to fade. ‘I think that’d be cool, but I think this will probably blow over soon,’ Ferguson predicted.

The footage of Ferguson mouthing Trump’s speech and mimicking gestures went viral after the rally. Various observers commented on the animated attendee’s presence. Some thought he sought ‘his 15 minutes’ of fame. ‘This made me laugh out loud and I voted for him,’ a social media post noted, appreciating Ferguson’s lightheartedness.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon commented that Ferguson might have been ‘a little distracting’ during Trump’s address. Ferguson recalled making a last-minute decision to attend the rally after a friend’s suggestion. ‘My friend was like, ‘You’ve got to go,’ Ferguson said, explaining his choice to wear a suit because meeting a sitting president felt significant.

Acknowledging mixed reactions from various political sides, Ferguson insisted there was no malicious intent behind his actions. Some critics found it rude, while others were excited. However, Ferguson maintained, ‘At the end of the day, I was just having fun. Anyone that knows me knows that I’m like this.’