Donald Trump will move closer to clinching the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday with an expected win in the Washington primary.
Advertisement
A protester is removed during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday, May 24, 2016.
During the rally, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was interrupted repeatedly by protesters, who shouted, held up banners and resisted removal by security officers.
A group of a dozen protesters in the grandstands around the stage where Trump spoke unfurled banners that read “Undocumented Unafraid” and “We’ve heard enough”. Then he provided his own answer: “Still wearing diapers”.
Trump’s supporters responded with chants of ‘Build that wall!’
The altercations left glass at the entrance of the convention center smashed.
Trump’s supporters braved profanities, insults and water bottles tossed by protesters before the rally. Police outfitted in riot gear blocked them as they tried to advance.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Trump camp has sent mixed signals about how much money had been raised at the event earlier this year.
“I’m the governor of New Mexico and I’m really focused on what’s going on here in New Mexico – just like the announcement we just did with 100 new high-tech and research jobs, improving the education for our kids, another job announcement tomorrow”.
“People call him a racist and he’s not a racist… he’s a man that loves America”, said one supporter.
He also said the number of people on welfare in New Mexico has tripled and said Gov. Susana Martinez, head of the Republican Governors Association and the nation’s only Latina governor, needs to do a better job.
However, in selecting a trio of staunch social conservatives and top-ranking members in the House and Senate, the RNC appears to be making good on a promise Trump made in private meetings that he would not engage in a platform fight with social conservatives.
Numerous supporters wore Trump buttons and hats that read “Make America Great Again”.
“Did you know I’m a businessman?”
“The potshots weren’t about policy, they were about politics”, said spokesman Michael Lonergan.
Trump’s stop in New Mexico is both very important and very divisive; New Mexico voted for President Obama in the last two elections by wide margins.
Trump supporters at the rally said they appreciated his stance on boosting border security and stemming the flow of people crossing the border illegally, but some said they were frightened by the violent protests outside.
Advertisement
Some of the protesters yelled at Dawn Selwyn and her 68-year-old mother, Olivia, as they got into line for their chance to see Trump.
