Police investigate assault on a protester at Trump's South Carolina rally after the president told the crowd 'I love that'

Protester Timothy McDaniel told Anderson County deputies that an unknown man put him in a headlock and punched him in the head, neck and chest. An officer recorded minor bruising, and the case has been assigned to an investigator. Trump watched the fracas from the stage at the Pendleton livestock arena and asked: 'Who's the guy that threw that punch?' At least 10 protesters interrupted his speech.

Trump called the protester a 'lunatic' and 'a very unattractive guy'.

It is at least the second assault at a Trump rally this month, after one in Youngstown, Ohio.

The rally was staged to boost Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham.