A man has sparked a divided response after he appeared to mirror Donald Trump’s trademark hand movements at a rally, prompting him to address what happened.
Trump has long been viewed as a larger-than-life political figure with a style that is instantly recognizable.
Whether it’s the so-called ‘Trump Dance’ or the way he says China (Chy-nah), comedians and impressionists have spent years borrowing parts of his public persona for sketches and routines.
Among the easiest features to recognize are his animated and highly distinctive hand gestures, which have become a key part of many impersonations.
The moment happened during Trump’s July 22 visit to Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he was promoting his new “Trump Accounts” savings initiative for children.
That is why so many people noticed Rylan Ferguson during a Georgia rally on Wednesday (July 22), where he was seated directly behind the president.
As Trump addressed the audience, Ferguson was seen appearing to copy his expressions and movements in a way that quickly drew attention online.
While some viewers interpreted the moment as disrespectful, Ferguson said that was not his intention and described it as ‘flattery’.
“I was very comfortable,” the seven-foot-tall 20-year-old said in an interview with Newsweek. “My friends were sitting right beside me and because of that, you know, I felt very comfortable.”
The University of Alabama finance student said the whole thing was simply ‘a little fun’.
Even so, reactions have varied widely, with some people criticizing him and others calling the impression ‘Oscar worthy’.
Ferguson said he has seen a broad range of responses since footage of the moment spread across social media.
One thing he made clear is that he has no regrets.
“I’m a very extroverted person,” he said. “I guess I’m not camera shy, so that’s kind of what happened. If you know me, that’s just my personality.”
Trump's own rally attendees are mocking Trump for sounding mentally unwell pic.twitter.com/iNpfylVVbx
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) July 22, 2026
He also explained that his friends already know him for doing a ‘really good’ Trump impression, and said the main reason he attended was because a sitting president was visiting his former high school.
“My friend was like, ‘You’ve got to go,'” he said. “So, I’m like, OK, I’m going to get dressed up in a suit because at the end of the day, you’re going to meet a sitting president of the United States.”
“It could’ve been Biden, it could’ve been Obama,” he said. “I wouldn’t care. A sitting president coming to your high school—that just doesn’t happen every day.”
According to local reporting, White House staffers had handpicked Ferguson and his friends to sit behind the podium because they are Wheeler High School graduates.
As for the sudden attention, Ferguson does not expect it to last for long. He also said he would be open to meeting Trump in person as someone who identifies as politically independent.
“I think that’d be cool, but I think this will probably blow over soon,” he said. “But everyone wants to talk about it, I get it; it’s known all over the world.”
“Some people are criticizing me,” he explained. “Some people on the right said it’s rude, and then other people on the left, you know, they were really excited about it. People are spinning it their own way, but at the end of the day, I was just having fun. Anyone that knows me knows that I’m like this.”
Impressions of Trump are nothing new, of course, and his mannerisms have been copied by countless people over the years.
Ferguson’s version has now joined that long list of Trump impersonations making waves online.