BILLINGS- Tyler Linfesty didn’t expect to become an Internet meme after he was selected for a plum spot directly behind President Trump at his Thursday rally in Billings.
The 17-year-old Billings West senior spoke to Q2 News Friday about his whirlwind last 24 hours, which included appearances on CNN, MSNBC and social media fame as #plaidshirtguy .
Linfesty said his now famous reactions to the president’s speech were honest but unintentional. Halfway through, he was escorted away from spot and replaced with a woman who was apparently a Trump campaign staffer.
Before that, however, Linfesty got his picture taken with Trump (though he hasn’t yet received a print) and he had hoped to get the president to sign a book. It was a copy of “The Communist Manifesto” wrapped in the jacket of Trump’s “Art of the Deal,” which Linfesty thought would be funny. (He stressed he’s not a communist or socialist.)
After graduation, Linfesty, who came to Q2 with his parents, Jessica and Ron, said he plans to attend college and study physics.
Related: Billings teen dubbed ‘Plaid Shirt Guy’ goes viral during Trump rally
