On Nov. 1, 2024, Craig was standing on an overpass above Highway 7 in Excelsior, Minn. Craig, a former Democrat turned Donald Trump supporter, was exercising his First Amendment rights just days before the 2024 presidential election.
Standing by himself with a Trump/Vance sign, a flag, and wearing a Trump hat, Craig, who asked that we only use his first name, felt it was his constitutional right to show support for the candidate. In an interview with Alpha News, he stated, “You know it’s my right as an American to do it. And that’s what I did.”
Craig’s day was about to take a dramatic turn.
According to a report Craig gave to the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department, a man in an SUV drove by Craig and yelled obscenities, including, “F*** this, f*** you, f*** Trump.” Craig said he remained unfazed at first, laughing and smiling in response. The Trump supporter told police that the individual drove by several times.
“I finally had enough of the guy driving back and forth,” Craig recalled. “I told him, you know, he’s a coward, and he needs to get outta here.” However, the situation escalated when the driver pulled over, exited the vehicle, and approached Craig, according to the report.
The police report of the incident says Craig “said the man swung at him with his right arm. The suspect made contact with [Craig’s] left wrist/forearm area with his hand. The man then walked back to his SUV.”
Recounting the incident, Craig said, “I blocked the swing and just started recording.”
After the altercation, the man reportedly got in his SUV and left the scene. The police report on the incident says a woman witnessed the altercation and later told police that she saw the suspect swing at Craig.
The suspect, James Dyste, was later charged with misdemeanor fifth-degree assault and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Dyste pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct charge and the assault charge was dismissed.
According to the police report, Dyste told police that he swatted Craig’s hand after Craig pointed it “in his face.”
“I told James he was being charged with assault as the victim called to press charges,” the report says. “James said he hated election time and would not fight the charge.”
Craig expressed his disbelief at the aggression, stating, “I would never dream of, you know, of treating somebody like that just ’cause they disagree with me.” He continued, “I don’t see Trump people doing this to the other side.”
Dyste was placed on probation and ordered to perform two service days and keep from committing any similar offenses for a period of one year, according to court records.
Craig, who said he originally “hated Trump,” explained how his views evolved after years of seeing a media landscape dominated by narratives rather than facts.
“I used to hate Trump, and then a couple of years into his first term, I realized that the media had basically stopped reporting news and was just reporting narratives,” Craig said.
When asked what he would say to the man who attacked him, Craig expressed empathy.
“We’d probably get along and be friends if he had bothered to come up and just talk to me like a normal human being,” said Craig. “Unfortunately, people who wear a Trump hat—negative assumptions are made about those people. But we all just want what’s best for our country, our families.”
Symone Harms
Symone Harms is a Media Production and Business Marketing student at Bethel University. She is actively involved in The Royals Investment Fund, The 25, theatre, and other leadership positions. She also cohosts Rooted, a podcast dedicated to being rooted in truth, growing in freedom, and prospering in life. A Minnesota native with a passion for storytelling and digital media, she aspires to a career in broadcasting as a news anchor and reporter.
