Washington
US President Donald Trump has praised Montana Republican Representative Greg Gianforte for assaulting a reporter during his campaign last May and called him “my guy”.

“Any guy who can do a body slam … he’s my guy,” Trump said at a Montana rally on Thursday night and made a gesture mimicking a body slam, according to CNN.

A judge sentenced him to a 180-day deferred sentence, 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management and a $300 fine along with a $85 court fee.

Trump said he found out about Gianforte assaulting a reporter when he was travelling in Rome and said initially he was concerned it would hurt the Republican in the election.

“Then I said, well wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well, I think it might help him. And it did.” He called Gianforte, “one of the most respected people in Congress” and a “tough cookie”.

Gianforte won the election the next day and apologized to Jacobs during his acceptance speech.