Against that backdrop, Trump continued to blame protesters, media and even Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders for the increasingly caustic campaign environment that his rivals assailed as “cause for pause” and certain “to do damage to America”.
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On Friday, the real estate magnate canceled a rally in Chicago, citing security concerns when a coalition of protestors packed the arena and clashed with his supporters.
After a demonstrator tried to rush on stage during Trump’s rally in Dayton, Ohio, early Saturday, the candidate made unverified claims that the man was linked to the Islamic State group. Secret Service quickly responded, although Trump was visibly startled.
“I am anxious about it”, Jordan Vashey, a 25-year old Republican voter visiting from New Jersey said before heading into Trump’s outdoor rally in Florida. They’re not protesters. They’re disrupters. And I love you people for being here tonight.
A day after he called off a planned Chicago event because it attracted so many protesters, he said he’s “going to start pressing charges against all these people”.
Donald Trump is through one of three events Sunday, an airplane hangar event in Bloomington, Illinois, that was much calmer than the Friday night rally in Chicago that was cancelled.
Although Trump later told Tapper that his tweet was not meant to be a personal threat aimed at Sanders, he reaffirmed his displeasure with Sander’s supporters warned of the disastrous consequences that would occur if the Vermont senator’s campaign events were similarly interrupted.
Sanders is displaying more integrity than all of the remaining Republican presidential candidates combined. Sen. Some of you may have read just a few hours ago that Mr. Trump said that he is prepared to pay the legal costs of an individual who sucker punched someone at a recent event. Trump said afterward: “Maybe he should have been roughed up”.
Donald Trump supporter shouts, ‘Go to Auschwitz!’ following a rally for the leading Republican candidate on March 12, 2016.
Trump says arrests would mar their records. “To protest is one thing, to disrupt is something else”, Sanders said as he went on to criticize Trump, CNN noted.
“I have no objection to what I said”, Trump said of his past rhetoric at rallies. Some experts say party officials may act during the convention to try to stop Trump from gaining the nomination.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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Trump has drawn fervent support as well as harsh criticism for his calls to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and to impose a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.
