YouTube Video: Man Who Climbed Trump Tower Explains Why He Did It

NEW YORK, NY — The man who was taken into custody Wednesday evening for climbing Trump Tower appears to have released a YouTube explainer the day before.

In the odd one-minute video, titled "Message to Mr. Trump (why I climbed Trump Tower)," a person who looks an awful lot like the climber gives his reasoning for climbing the Midtown skyscraper.

All he wanted, he says, was to chat with the man who owns the building.

He also encourages viewers to vote for Trump in the election.

The man appears in the video with an Under Armour hoodie partially covering his face to make himself "less recognizable." He refers to himself as an "independent researcher seeking private audience" with Trump to "discuss an important matter."

"I guarantee it is in your interest to honor this request," the man says in the video. "Believe me, if my purpose was not significant, I would not risk my life pursuing it."

The video continues:

"The reason I climbed your tower was to get your attention. If I had sought this through conventional means, I would be much less likely to have success, because you're a busy man with many responsibilities. I'll get my contact information to your campaign, so if you are interested you can respond.

"As for anyone else who is watching, please help make this video go viral so that it gets to Mr. Trump, and be sure to get out and vote for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election. Thank you."

Police cut out a window and grabbed the man, who reports have identified as Stephen Rogata, just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday — some three hours after he began climbing.

Photo Credit: Screengrab from YouTube