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'Trump Is Treason': Protester Throws Russian Flags at President on Capitol Hill

October 24, 2017

A protester threw Russian flags at President Donald Trump on Tuesday as he walked to a Republican policy lunch on Capitol Hill.

Trump was walking through the Capitol building with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) when a man started yelling "Trump is treason" and tossed Russian flags in the president's direction.

Capitol Police officers detained the man, identified as Ryan Clayton, president of the left-wing group Americans Take Action. The Russia flags he threw had Trump's name on them.

Clayton, 36, had previously tried to prank unwitting attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference in February by handing out similar Russian flags inside and outside of CPAC, which he and another liberal activist emblazoned with the word "TRUMP" in gold letters.

On Tuesday, reporters yelled questions at Trump as he walked by with McConnell, but as they quieted down after he passed, the protester continued to yell.

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It is unclear how Clayton gained access to the area of the Capitol where Trump passed. Some observers have speculated that he either obtained a media pass or was sponsored by a member of Congress' office.

MSNBC's Kasie Hunt noted how it was an unusual breach of decorum for someone to launch such a vocal protest in that setting.

Trump is set to attend a lunch with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to discuss tax reform and other legislative issues.