MAGA Influencer Arrested for Lewd Acts Dressed as Uncle Sam at Trump’s State Fair

A MAGA social media influencer, Gian Rachtelli, 54, was charged with lewd, indecent, and obscene acts while dressed as Uncle Sam during an acrobatic performance at President Trump’s Great American State Fair. This incident unfolded on the National Mall, shocking witnesses and leading to his arrest.

Three separate witnesses reported Rachtelli engaging in what appeared to be a sexual act during a performance by the Cirque Mechanics acrobat troupe. One witness observed him vaping and filming female acrobats before he placed his hand inside his pants. Another witness noted that he returned for a later show and repeated the same behavior. A third witness revealed that a member of the acrobatic team approached them, expressing discomfort over Rachtelli's lewd gestures while they performed on stage.

Rachtelli, known to his followers as “Manny,” was detained in an Uncle Sam costume and overalls. Anti-Trump activist Brianne Chapman shared details of the incident on social media.

According to a statement from the Park Police Public Information Office, officers responded to a report concerning lewd acts and indecent exposure. They located and arrested Rachtelli after being alerted by National Guard personnel or other law enforcement partners working at the State Fair.

The arrest affidavit indicates that the incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. Witnesses approached law enforcement, prompting officers to detain Rachtelli behind one of the performing stages. Sergeant Nielsen, the primary arresting officer, interviewed onlookers and determined there was probable cause to arrest Rachtelli.

He was transported to the Park Police District 1 station in Southeast D.C. for processing. The incident was recorded on Park Police body-worn cameras, although footage was not reviewed prior to the initial report due to department policy.

Rachtelli’s last livestream showed him walking through the fairgrounds in his Uncle Sam costume before abruptly cutting off as police officers approached him. The video lacked audio of the encounter, and he has not posted online since.

Some MAGA supporters defended Rachtelli online, claiming his arrest was politically motivated. One user on X, named HaleyReports, posted a graphic demanding his release with the words: “FREE MANNY.”

The graphic depicted Rachtelli in his American flag overalls at the event, stating: “FALSE REPORT. UNFAIR ARREST. WRONGFUL DETENTION. JUSTICE FOR MANNY!”

This arrest adds to ongoing issues at the taxpayer-funded Great American State Fair, part of the Trump administration's America 250 celebrations. The event has seen low public turnout, and several musical acts withdrew before it opened on June 25 after discovering its ties to the Trump administration.

As a result, the planned musical lineup faced significant cancellations, with President Trump headlining the opening night with a MAGA rally. Further disruptions occurred when a performance by rapper Vanilla Ice was canceled just two hours before showtime due to inclement weather.

The Independent has contacted Rachtelli for comment.