A dim-witted Donald Trump fan used suction cups to scale the mogul’s namesake Midtown tower Wednesday in a failed bid to meet the blowhard.
The 19-year-old Virginia man evaded frustrated cops for nearly three hours in the oppressive summer heat as he clung to the side of the Fifth Ave. skyscraper “Mission: Impossible”-style.
He was eventually yanked to safety through a 21st-floor window by NYPD officers.
The daredevil started off slowly climbing the glass tower around 3:30 p.m. using handheld suction cups, ropes and a climbing harness — stunning visitors on the fourth-floor terrace as he began his ascent.
“We were in the public garden at Trump Tower when all of a sudden the guy took off his basketball shorts and sprinted down the side of the building on the ledge,” said Blake Crowson, 20, of Newport News, Va. “We thought he was BASE jumping. He had two duffel bags that looked like they had climbing ropes.”
Hundreds of people gathered in the streets below the high-rise to cheer and jeer the acrobatics despite Wednesday’s high temps and humidity.
Witnesses said the nutjob, identified by sources as Stephen Rogata, dropped a notebook and a computer at two different points during his climb.
The boneheaded Trump fanatic told cops he just wanted to get the attention of the Republican presidential nominee.
“His sole intention was to meet with Mr. Trump,” said NYPD Chief William Aubrey.
Rogata said he had no intention of hurting Trump, who was not in his penthouse apartment atop the 58-story high-rise as the drama unfolded. Trump was in Virginia and Florida on Wednesday for two campaign rallies.
“Great job today by the NYPD in protecting the people and saving the climber,” Trump tweeted late Wednesday.
Police were investigating a video posted on YouTube Tuesday titled “Message to Mr. Trump (why I climbed your tower)” which appeared to show the Spider-Man-like climber explaining his ill-advised adventure.
“I am an independent researcher seeking a private audience with you to discuss an important matter,” the hooded, long-haired young man says in the clip.
“Believe me, if my purpose was not significant, I would not risk my life pursuing it,” he adds, before calling on viewers to vote for Trump.
A police source said the Midtown mountaineer might be bipolar. Rogata’s backpack contained various forms of identification and he may go by more than one name, the source added.
His stunt drew hundreds to the streets surrounding the black-glassed building and brought traffic in Midtown to a standstill. The skyscraper houses the headquarters of the Trump Organization.
Onlookers rushed to social media to comment on the chaos.
NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi
The climber's ascent was thwarted around 6:30 p.m. when cops hauled him inside the building.
In another tweet, Chu wrote that the climber was carrying a notebook and tried to show it to people in the building.
In a video posted by @StevOLucci, a woman can be heard asking, “What happens if it starts raining again?”
The feat drew some cheeky remarks regarding Trump’s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border.
“This Trump Tower climber is showing some good #lifehacks for climbing the Trump wall,” tweeted Sharareh Drury.
Glass rained down on the gravity-defying Trump supporter.
The baseball-hat-wearing wild man ignored cops’ pleas and continued climbing past the shattered window. Police had set up several airbags in case the climber came crashing down.
“I was waiting for a time it was safe for him, myself and my crew,” Williams said. “I reached out my hand and said, ‘Sir, you need to come with me.’ ”
Williams said Rogata considered resisting arrest.
“He thought about it,” he said, but the suspect ultimately “went peacefully.”
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The 19-year-old Virginia man evaded frustrated cops for nearly three hours in the oppressive summer heat as he clung to the side of the Fifth Ave. skyscraper “Mission: Impossible”-style.
He was eventually yanked to safety through a 21st-floor window by NYPD officers.
The daredevil started off slowly climbing the glass tower around 3:30 p.m. using handheld suction cups, ropes and a climbing harness — stunning visitors on the fourth-floor terrace as he began his ascent.
“We were in the public garden at Trump Tower when all of a sudden the guy took off his basketball shorts and sprinted down the side of the building on the ledge,” said Blake Crowson, 20, of Newport News, Va. “We thought he was BASE jumping. He had two duffel bags that looked like they had climbing ropes.”
Hundreds of people gathered in the streets below the high-rise to cheer and jeer the acrobatics despite Wednesday’s high temps and humidity.
Witnesses said the nutjob, identified by sources as Stephen Rogata, dropped a notebook and a computer at two different points during his climb.
The boneheaded Trump fanatic told cops he just wanted to get the attention of the Republican presidential nominee.
“His sole intention was to meet with Mr. Trump,” said NYPD Chief William Aubrey.
Rogata said he had no intention of hurting Trump, who was not in his penthouse apartment atop the 58-story high-rise as the drama unfolded. Trump was in Virginia and Florida on Wednesday for two campaign rallies.
“Great job today by the NYPD in protecting the people and saving the climber,” Trump tweeted late Wednesday.
Police were investigating a video posted on YouTube Tuesday titled “Message to Mr. Trump (why I climbed your tower)” which appeared to show the Spider-Man-like climber explaining his ill-advised adventure.
“I am an independent researcher seeking a private audience with you to discuss an important matter,” the hooded, long-haired young man says in the clip.
“Believe me, if my purpose was not significant, I would not risk my life pursuing it,” he adds, before calling on viewers to vote for Trump.
A police source said the Midtown mountaineer might be bipolar. Rogata’s backpack contained various forms of identification and he may go by more than one name, the source added.
His stunt drew hundreds to the streets surrounding the black-glassed building and brought traffic in Midtown to a standstill. The skyscraper houses the headquarters of the Trump Organization.
Onlookers rushed to social media to comment on the chaos.
NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi
The climber's ascent was thwarted around 6:30 p.m. when cops hauled him inside the building.
In another tweet, Chu wrote that the climber was carrying a notebook and tried to show it to people in the building.
In a video posted by @StevOLucci, a woman can be heard asking, “What happens if it starts raining again?”
The feat drew some cheeky remarks regarding Trump’s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border.
“This Trump Tower climber is showing some good #lifehacks for climbing the Trump wall,” tweeted Sharareh Drury.
Glass rained down on the gravity-defying Trump supporter.
The baseball-hat-wearing wild man ignored cops’ pleas and continued climbing past the shattered window. Police had set up several airbags in case the climber came crashing down.
“I was waiting for a time it was safe for him, myself and my crew,” Williams said. “I reached out my hand and said, ‘Sir, you need to come with me.’ ”
Williams said Rogata considered resisting arrest.
“He thought about it,” he said, but the suspect ultimately “went peacefully.”
read more
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