MAGA fan accused of masturbating at Donald Trump's Great American State Fair in latest setback for embattled event
By: James Gordon (Mail Online)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A MAGA live-streamer dressed as Uncle Sam has been arrested at President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair after multiple witnesses reported him to police.
Gian Rachtelli, 54, was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon and charged with lewd, indecent or obscene acts after three people independently described what they believed was a sexual act taking place during a Cirque Mechanics performance.
The arrest is the latest controversy to engulf Trump's taxpayer-funded Great American State Fair, an event already facing criticism over performer cancellations, sparse crowds and eye-watering food prices.
Police body camera footage captured the incident, although the responding officer noted in the report that it had not yet been reviewed before the report was completed.
According to the document, officers were dispatched to the National Mall at approximately 3:50pm after another law enforcement agency working the fair said witnesses had reported a man 'doing inappropriate things during a performance.'
When US Park Police officers arrived behind one of the performance stages, they found Rachtelli being detained by officers.
The report states officers interviewed three witnesses before determining there was probable cause to arrest him.
'He returned for the second show, and I saw him with his hand in his pants likely doing what we all thought he was doing,' one witness told police in a voluntary statement.
Gian Rachtelli, 54, was arrested and charged with lewd, indecent or obscene acts following an incident at Donald Trump's Great American State Fair on the National Mall
Visitors walk at The Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington D.C.
Social media users mocked the fair's reported attendance, with one commenter joking there were so few people that 'everyone gets their own individual porta potty'
A second witness told investigators that a female member of the acrobat team had approached them after becoming concerned.
'I was approached by a female member of the acrobat team who had noticed an older white male that was making her & other female performer uncomfortable,' the witness wrote.
'They informed me that they noticed him making lewd gestures in his pants (as if he was attempting to/masturbating) while they were performing.'
A third witness told officers they had been standing behind Rachtelli during the performance.
'I was witnessing the Cirque Mechanics performance on June 25 2026 at the Great American State Fair,' the witness wrote.
'He was vaping and filming the female performers. He then stuck his right hand down his pants and it moved back-and-forth approximately six times very uncomfortable, in what appeared to be self pleasure or masturbation.'
Based on those witness statements, police charged Rachtelli with one count of lewd, indecent or obscene acts.
The incident report does not include any statement from Rachtelli responding to the allegations.
Rachtelli has been identified online by supporters as the MAGA live-streamer known as 'Manny,' whose live-stream ended shortly before police detained him
According to a US Park Police report, officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Rachtelli after interviewing three separate witnesses
Critics on social media described photographs of the fair as showing sparse crowds throughout the opening days of the 16-day event
Rachtelli has been identified online by supporters as the MAGA live-streamer known as 'Manny,' who had been broadcasting live from the event earlier in the day.
Video from his livestream appears to end abruptly as police officers approached him. No audio from the interaction was captured, and Rachtelli has not posted on his account since.
Supporters quickly rallied to his defense online, disputing the allegations.
'False Report. Unfair Report. Wrongful Detention. Free Manny!' one X user wrote.
On Reddit, another supporter wrote: 'I'm standing by Manny 100%. He didn't do this. He was live streaming the entire time, and the footage shows what happened before his arrest.'
'From everything I've seen, this appears to be an attempt to destroy his reputation, damage his livelihood, and silence someone because of his political views.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Rachtelli seeking comment.
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What a country .
that's probably the new maga recognition signal and/or salute, based upon the jerk-off that occupies the oval office now ...
Just don't say people don't have fun at a Trump event.
Not to worry. Trump will pardon him.
... or give him a cabinet position.