Donald Trump rally attendee charged with hitting black man

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A white Donald Trump rally attendee was charged with assault Thursday after he was caught on video hitting a black man being escorted by deputies from the venue, authorities said.

A news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said John Franklin McGraw, 78, of Linden, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct after the rally for the Republican presidential front-runner Wednesday in Fayetteville.

The release said the assault victim was being escorted out of Crown Coliseum after disrupting the rally, and deputies had their eyes on the stairs when the assault happened.

According to the video posted online by the program (http://goo.gl/wFtXIl), he responded: "You bet I liked it ... knocking the hell out of that big mouth."

Audiences are usually told ahead of rallies in an announcement not to harm protesters — and instead attract authorities' attention by chanting, Trump!

Trump said at Thursday's GOP debate that he hopes he hasn't played a role in inciting the violence with some of his provocative language.