If you get the opportunity to sit in the audience behind Donald Trump during a recorded or televised speech, you just don’t not use the opportunity to go viral. For some, that means hanging on Trump’s every word as a supportive member of MAGA. For others, it means making fun of the president. Where does the man who sat behind Trump during his Georgia high school speech and appearance stand? There is some debate on that.
But a viral video shows the man, who was later identified as 20-year-old college student Rylan Ferguson, seemingly mocking Trump while sitting behind him during the 74-minute speech in July 2026. Footage made the rounds on social media, with some claiming that Ferguson mouths Trump’s speech and makes hand motions in an attempt to make fun of him. Others believe the attendee’s actions were all in good fun.
The man behind Trump mimed his movements and facial expressions the entire time.
🚨OMG: An audience member behind Trump is going viral for MAKING FUN of Trump and impersonating his movements during his boring speech.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) July 22, 2026
This is absolutely humiliating. pic.twitter.com/BHyuuMHrEv
Trump visited a high school in Georgia to give a speech about alleged tax breaks and Trump Savings Accounts for kids. But what happened behind him, in a now viral video, is what people are actually talking about. The man later identified as Rylan is sitting with two other men, who have not been named. Those men have their own strange emotes during Trump’s speech, but it’s Rylan who really gained attention.
As Trump speaks, there’s Rylan in the background, doing typical Trump style facial expressions and hand gestures. He seems to be mocking the president and, for those who regularly mock Trump in their spare time anyway, it was a welcome distraction. It’s also surprising, though, that Rylan (and the other two men) weren’t removed from their seats directly behind Trump as he spoke to the crowd.
But the internet kind of loves the guy.
One user commented on an X post with the video, “This guy is wonderfully hilarious. Trump will see this and try to deport the poor slob.”
Another wrote, “Lol, making fun of a demented old man is wrong. But in this case, I’ll allow it.”
The man who mocked him allegedly spoke out.
As for what the guy behind the Trump impersonation actually thinks of the president? According to Inside Edition, Rylan shared with the outlet why he did the impersonation behind Trump’s back. Surprisingly, according to what he allegedly said, Rylan is not as anti-Trump or as anti-MAGA as some might have suspected (or hoped).
Inside Edition wrote in the caption of an Instagram video about the incident that Rylan is actually a Trump supporter and that he said, “I was absolutely pumped and amazed to actually sit behind the president.”
Until Rylan actually comes out to say that and people see him share that sentiment, not everyone is convinced. Who knows? It could be part of the bit.
There are other questions about the audience members.
@nbcnews An audience member mimicked President Trump during his speech at a rally in Georgia.
♬ original sound – nbcnews
The men who are sitting next to Rylan in the video are making their own hand gestures in the clip from Trump’s speech, and they too have people curious. The men appear to talk and laugh with Rylan before they look at their phones and then begin to make hand movements at the camera pointed at Trump.
The gestures, according to users on X, refer to the Kennesaw State University, a college in Georgia, and its owl mascot sign. Whether they are poking fun at Trump or making light of their opportunity to be on camera is still a bit of a mystery.
READ NEXT: Critics Are Convinced Trump Thought AI Teddy Roosevelt Was Real
