An influencer from the United States who supports the MAGA movement has been accused of assault after an incident at a London Underground station. Melissa Rein Lively, a US citizen, faces charges of assault by beating, while Philipp Ostermann, a German national aged 37, is charged with two racially aggravated public order offenses and another public order offense. The altercation occurred at Bond Street Underground station on the evening of October 11 last year, according to a statement from the British Transport Police (BTP) released on Friday.
Rein Lively, aged 40, is known as the founder of an “anti-woke” public relations company called America First PR, as indicated on her Instagram profile. The charges against both individuals involve two purported victims, according to court records.
The initial court hearing for this case is scheduled to take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 19, as announced by the police. The charges stem from a 2025 incident in which a woman was allegedly sprayed with suspected pepper spray, racially abused, and physically attacked.
According to reports from the Mail, the 34-year-old woman, accompanied by her sister and two children, entered Bond Street Underground station on the evening of October 11. Following an encounter with a couple, an altercation occurred, leading to an investigation by BTP.
The woman, along with her sister and two young children, one in a stroller, were involved in the incident. A BTP spokesperson stated that the man involved began shouting racial slurs at the woman and her family, while the woman reportedly pulled the victim’s hair.
During the confrontation, the man purportedly used pepper spray, aimed at the victim and her family, before both parties left the scene amidst verbal abuse and gestures.
Previously, Rein Lively sought the White House press secretary position during the second term of the Trump administration but was ultimately not appointed. She expressed confidence in her White House prospects, citing her extensive network and clientele, including influential figures.
Rein Lively, based in Arizona, has publicly declared her support for Trump, embodying the “MAGA look” with features like blonde hair, veneers, and Botox. In 2020, she recorded herself destroying face masks in a store during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ostermann, identified as Rein Lively’s partner, holds the position of associate director at Aequita, a private equity firm based in Munich with additional offices in South Carolina and Tokyo.
