BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A high school student’s appearance behind President Donald Trump at a Montana campaign rally caused a social media stir on Friday after the 17-year-old made a series of facial expressions that looked a lot like, well, a teenager reacting to a rambling politician in a suit.
Internet users were quick to ascribe meaning to the student’s raised eyebrows, his knowing smiles and pursed lips, variously interpreting the looks as disbelief, disinterest or hostility toward Trump.
The Billings Gazette identified him as Tyler Linfesty, a senior at Billings’ West High School.
Linfesty, dubbed “#plaidshirt guy” on Twitter because of the shirt he wore to the rally, said he was surprised to be selected as a VIP for Thursday’s event in Billings, which allowed him to get a photo taken with Trump and to stand behind the president.
He was told to smile and clap but “had to be honest with my views,” Linfesty said.
“I didn’t really have a plan,” he added. “I was just going to clap for things I agreed with and not clap for things I didn’t agree with.”
After the looks on his face apparently caught the attention of rally organizers, Linfesty and two friends were pulled from the crowd and replaced with more enthusiastic Trump supporters.
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