A US man charged with criminal mischief in the slashing of a towering "Baby Trump" balloon has defended his actions, saying it was a matter of good versus evil.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Alabama man Hoyt Deau Hutchinson called radio's Rick & Bubba Show on Monday to describe what happened, Al.com reports.
Hutchinson said he was shaking in anger when he drove past the balloon and its handlers on Saturday during US President Donald Trump's visit to see Louisiana State play against the University of Alabama.
He bought a University of Alabama shirt to better blend into the crowd and get close to the balloon, he said.
Pretending he wanted a picture with the balloon, Hutchinson said he used a material cutter with a sharp razor to slice the symbol open.
The orange, nappy-clad caricature is often floated at Trump appearances to protest and mock the president, which the balloon shows clutching a mobile phone.
The balloon measures more than 6.1 metres tall and was left with a 2.4m long gash in its backside.
"It comes a point when you gotta take a stand," Hutchinson said.
"We don't have two parties anymore. We have good versus evil. When you got one party that says it's OK to kill babies and by the way, this is the first time I'm ever seen a liberal get mad about chopping up a baby."
Hutchinson said he yelled "Trump 2020" as he was being arrested. He later posted bail and was released.
Australian Associated Press