Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump threw red meat Monday to a Hickory audience hungry for tough talk against lost jobs, illegal immigrants and entrenched politicians.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who shocked the GOP establishment by throwing his political weight behind the acid-tongued billionaire, served as moderator for a question-and-answer format at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Protesters interrupted Trump’s 50-minute appearance three times, and lined a street outside the venue, but with no apparent physical confrontations. A capacity crowd erupted into chants of “USA! USA! USA!” and “Trump! Trump! Trump!” each times protesters were escorted from the auditorium.
Trump’s appearance was delayed by nearly two hours because of heavy fog at Hickory’s airport, diverting his plane to Charlotte. Once he took the stage, Trump touched on now-familiar themes as he sat beside Christie in matching chairs.
Police removed nearly a dozen protesters when Trump promised to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Trump got enthusiastic applause when he reiterated he would build a wall. “USA, USA,” the crowd shouted as law enforcement escorted the protesters out.
Another protester was ejected as Christie turned the conversation to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The crowd cheered when another four protesters were escorted out.
“They don’t report them when they happen to someone else,” Trump said, saying that no one reports interruptions at Rubio rallies.
Trump says the media has wrongly reported on violence at rallies. No one has been hurt, he says. (In Fayetteville, a man was accused of sucker-punching a protester last week at a Trump rally. Trump has said he was looking into paying the man’s legal fees.)
“It’s a movement, it’s a love fest,” Trump said of his campaign. “There’s anger where you look at the United States, and it can’t win anymore.”
Chanting outside could be faintly heard in the auditorium. Trumped ignored it and pressed on with his talking points.
Trump hit the North Carolina economy, saying bad trade deals had cost the state many jobs. He said he would bring back those jobs from abroad but gave no specifics.
Trump answered criticisms about his business record by pointing out his companies are successful and his Washington hotel in the historic Post Office tower on Pennsylvania Avenue is a year ahead of schedule in development.
Christie asked Trump about his North Carolina business connections. “Trump National,” he replied referring to his Lake Norman resort.
Trump’s rally was delayed when his plane was diverted to Charlotte because of fog. He had been scheduled to speak at 10 a.m.
Before Trump arrived, Pastor Mark Burns, a cable television personality, called for Trump’s supporters to ignore political and social barriers. Trump, who has suggested temporarily barring Muslims, “loves Muslims,” Burns said.
Burns led the crowd in a series of chants against liberal presidents, abortion and gay marriage. “Never again! Never again! Never again!” it roared.
Trump’s event is the first of three presidential candidate visits in the Charlotte area Monday. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will each address Charlotte rallies. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rallied more than 3,000 supporters Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord.
Details on attending Clinton event
Details on attending Sanders event
More than 1,000 supporters, some if whom stood in line outside the rally for more than three hours, were turned away because the auditorium was at capacity. The venue seats 1,450, with 156 seats reserved for the media.
Trump supporter Jim Yates left his Laurens, S.C. home at 5 a.m. Monday to attend the Hickory rally. The big black sombrero he wore symbolized his support for legal Hispanics, he said.
“If you’re here properly, it doesn’t matter where you come from,” said the 68-year-old retiree.
Trump would make sure jobs don’t go overseas, he said. That’s important to Laurens, Yates said, where “the mills have been closed for years and jobs lost. People have to go outside the county to work.”
Trump, he added, “knows a lot of people in the right places” who can help correct a country that Yates views as corrupted.
Protesters gather for rally
About 80 protesters were among those who arrived early. Between 60-70 law enforcement officers are at the Trump rally, one sheriff’s officer estimates
“I’m here to support my people and to say I’m here to stay. No matter what he can’t deport 11 million people,” said Josefina Cazares, 23.
Another protester said she’s at the event for the same reason.
“I’m a student here at (Lenoir-Rhyne), and here they teach us to be great leaders. He doesn’t represent a great leader, so I disagree with him even being here,” said Lena Martinez, 19.
Trump supporters answered protesters’ church hymns with “Build that wall!”
Another screamed: “Go to work!”
The Republican frontrunner’s events have been interrupted by protesters for months. Last week, the protests sparked physical violence.
Lenoir-Rhyne President Wayne Powell told the crowd that the university had extended invitations to all major political candidates.