Fox News coverage of Jonestown massacre
The gist
At a Rock Hill, South Carolina rally, attendee Tom Hoyle told Fox News the event was like seeing a cult up front.
The exchange sent Jonestown searches up 600% and made Hoyle's print shop a Halloween costume source.
How it unfolded
- Oct 29, 2026During a live Fox News broadcast at Trump's Rock Hill rally, reporter Lucas Tomlinson asked attendee Tom Hoyle why he was there; Hoyle compared the event to the Jonestown massacre and said, "There's nothing like seeing a cult right up front, man."
- Oct 29, 2026Tomlinson responded "Wait, the Jonestown massacre?" and told the camera "All right, so maybe this is not a Trump supporter" while walking away. Hoyle said the Secret Service later asked him to leave.
- Oct 29, 2026Google searches for "Jonestown" spiked 600% within hours, and anti-Trump and anti-Republican posts filled social media.