USAupdated 39m ago2 min read
Trump Interrupted by Protesters at San Antonio Rally for Ken Paxton
At least 10 protesters were removed from the Freeman Coliseum during the rally. Trump mocked the demonstrators, claiming they were paid by enemies of the nation.
San Antonio Rally Disrupted
President Donald Trump campaigned in San Antonio for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton and faced repeated interruptions from protesters at a Freeman Coliseum appearance.
“‘He’s going back home to mom,’ the president said after the man was removed.”
At least 10 protesters were removed from the rally as Trump was heckled while supporters booed, and Trump mocked the protesters by claiming without evidence they were paid.
Trump told the crowd, "He’s going back to Mom now," as demonstrators were escorted away by police, and Trump added, "But what he doesn’t know: His mother voted for Trump."
Trump also used the rally to address his remarks about possible Iranian attacks on U.S. cities, saying, "Do you want to see trouble? Then let them attack San Diego, let them attack Los Angeles," and adding, "We will not allow that. We will protect our cities. We will protect our country."
Paid Protesters Claim
Trump repeatedly fired back at hecklers during the rally, accusing them of being "paid" to interrupt the proceedings. Trump said, "They’re paid protesters," and he claimed, "They’re paid by enemies of our nation," as the crowd chanted "U-S-A!" and supporters tried to drown out the disruptions.
A man wearing a MAGA hat grabbed another man by the scalp and yanked him to the ground, and Trump responded by saying, "Let me ask you a question: Is there anything like a Trump rally?" The Guardian reported that one protester was physically assaulted by an older Trump supporter as he tried to leave the arena, and the president told demonstrators to "get the hell out of here" after supporters waved cowboy hats and chanted "USA."
Paxton Race and Stakes
Trump’s Texas appearance marked his third trip to Texas in less than a month, and party officials had devoted more than $300 million to elections in the state so far. Trump described Paxton as "perhaps the greatest attorney general in the United States of America," and Paxton told the crowd, "We are going to win this race."
The New York Times and Siena College poll released last weekend showed Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 45% among likely voters, while the state had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988. The Hill said a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday put Trump’s approval rating at 32 percent, and the article said that Trump’s request that voters pretend he is "on the ballot" cast a dark shadow over GOP prospects in the November midterm elections.