Racial Slurs May Have Led To N.J. 'Trump Shirt' Attack: Reports

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A racially charged argument may have played a factor in the beating of a Trump supporter in Bloomfield last week, according to reports.

The 62-year-old Caucasian victim told Bloomfield police that he was walking on West Passaic Avenue on Aug. 3 when a younger, African-American man in a gray vehicle approached and began to comment about his Donald Trump T-shirt.

Police said that the alleged Trump hater then followed the victim to the Friendly’s Restaurant on Broad Street, and during an ensuing argument, hit him with a metal object several times on the forearms, hands and thighs, and fled the scene before police arrived.

• See related article: Trump Supporter Gets Crowbar Beating Because Of T-Shirt: Police

However, on Tuesday, the beaten man told reporters that while the fight began over his choice of attire, it eventually escalated into a racially charged shouting match before descending into violence.

The victim said that he and his assailant exchanged multiple racial slurs prior to the fight. At that time, the man said that he walked into the Friendly’s restaurant and ordered a meal.

The argument continued when the younger man entered the restaurant 15 minutes later, the Trump supporter said.

A Friendly’s waitress working at the time of the fight told Pix 11 News that the Trump supporter allegedly verbally taunted the man with racial slurs during the encounter.

Soon afterwards, the two men agreed to go outside to settle their differences, Pix 11 reported.

At that time, the younger man allegedly grabbed a two-foot long, metal steering wheel lock and attacked, the Trump supporter claimed.

Watch a video featuring the victim's statement here.

Video/Photo: Pix 11 News