The president of the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association says he didn’t know that a clown at the Missouri State Fair rodeo planned an act that critics on both sides of the political aisle have deemed disrespectful to the president.

Meanwhile the Missouri State Fair Commission has banned the clown for life.

The clown put on an Obama mask and asked the crowd if they wanted to see the president “run down by a bull.” According to one account, one of the clowns ran up and started bobbling the lips on the mask and the people went crazy.”

A rodeo announcer denied any responsibility in the act and claimed the clown had his own microphone.

Mark Ficken is rodeo association president and was the rodeo announcer. His attorney, Albert Watkins, said Monday that the clown was acting unscripted and it was the clown, wearing a microphone, who made comments riling up the crowd.

Watkins says Ficken’s only comment was to say, “Watch out for that bull Obama!”

The commission also said the Missouri Rodeo Cowboys Association needs to hold all of those who participated in the stunt responsible.