Trump calls Statue of Liberty climber a clown

President Donald Trump addresses the audience at a rally at the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark, Thursday, July 5, 2018, in Great Falls, Mont., in support of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart)

NEW YORK – President Donald Trump has called the woman who climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty on the Fourth of July to protest his immigration policy a “clown.”

Therese Okoumou said she climbed the landmark as a spur-of-the-moment demonstration against policies that resulted in the separation of immigrant children from parents accused of crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. The naturalized US citizen from Congo was escorted off the landmark by police on Wednesday, and pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct on Thursday.

But Trump said during a Montana campaign rally she should have been left alone until she decided to come down on her own.

“Let’s gets some nets, and let’s wait till she comes down,” Trump said.

On Wednesday, the National Park Service evacuated more than 4,000 visitors off Liberty Island due to the incident as a precaution.

A group that organized the immigration protest at the statue said she had taken part in unfurling a banner at the statue’s pedestal.  /kga