Donald Trump’s campaign manager said Sunday that the protester who caused a security scare at a Nevada rally, prompting Secret Service to rush the Republican presidential nominee from the stage, was a pro-Hillary Clinton plant.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said the stunt and the mainstream media reaction demonstrated the increasing desperation of Mrs. Clinton, the Democrat nominee.

“People are trying to spin it that this is the kind of action you get at your rallies,” she said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” “It’s a microcosmic example of how desperate they are becoming. We’re scrambling the electoral map. We’re playing follow the leader with us in the lead.”

She was referring to how Mrs. Clinton and her surrogates have been campaigning in traditionally blue states that Mr. Trump has targeted for a flip at the polls Tuesday.

The protester, Austyn Crites, 33, was quickly ushered out of the rally by Secret Service after people in the crowd shouted out that he had a gun.

In a statement, the Secret Service said a “thorough search” turned up no weapon. Mr. Crites was later released.

It’s not the first time a Trump rally has been the object of violence and/or assassination scares. The tycoon had to cancel a Chicago rally in March because of clashes outside the arena involving liberals who boasted afterward that they’d shut down a hate rally. And in June, a British man tried unsuccessfully to grab a policeman’s gun in the hope of assassinating Mr. Trump.

Rallygoers thus got a scare.

“I heard ‘He has a gun,’ and several of us went over to the side wall because we were frightened,” rally attendee Darla Webb told NBC News.

Mr. Crites later told reporters that he is a Republican and was trying to hold up a sign that read “Republicans against Trump.” He claimed in a BBC interview that people in the crowd accosted him, and he was “saved” by the Secret Service.

Mr. Crites has been a registered Republican since 2011. His Facebook page declared his support for Mrs. Clinton and stated that Mr. Trump is a “fascist.”

After Mr. Crites was pulled from the audience, Mr. Trump returned to the stage and finished his speech. He later issued a statement praising his agents for their work.

“I would like to thank the United States Secret Service and the law enforcement resources in Reno and the state of Nevada for their fast and professional response,” he said. “I also want to thank the many thousands of people present for their unwavering and unbelievable support. Nothing will stop us — we will make America great again!”

Ms. Conway said Mr. Trump’s reaction to the security scare is a testament to his character.

“Obviously, he could have left. Everyone would have understood,” said Ms. Conway. “But that’s Donald Trump. He wanted to come right back to the stage once he was told it was safe to do so.”

⦁ Stephen Dinan contributed to this report.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.