Supporters upstage Donald Trump at Las Vegas rally, heckling protesters with Nazi slogan, threats
A day before the final Republican presidential debate of 2015, Donald Trump held a rally in Las Vegas on Monday night, and the crowd did not handle the occasional interruption from Black Lives Matter protesters very politely. As one protester, identified by BuzzFeed News as Ender Austin III, was dragged out by hotel and casino security, Trump supporters yelled "Shoot him!" and "Kick his ass!" and, memorably, "Light the motherf—er on fire!" BuzzFeed's McKay Coppins caught that last (NSFW) invective on camera:
Other comments shouted out by Trump supporters as protesters were forcibly escorted from the room included the Nazi salute "Sieg heil!" and "He's a Muslim!" NBC News reports. After the fifth or sixth scuffle between security and protesters, Coppins, attending his first Trump rally, expressed surprise at the circus:
Along with doing a play-by-play of the scuffles, Trump reportedly taunted the press for rushing to capture each flare-up on camera. At one point, he joked that he had staged a protester-security fight just to get reporters to document the size of the crowd. Trump has expanded his lead among Republicans since proposing that all Muslims be banned from traveling to the U.S.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Russians start to vote in election Putin will win
speed read Putin's opponents are mostly in prison, exiled or dead
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Schumer slams Netanyahu, calls for new leader
speed read The senator — one of Israel's most avid supporters — criticized the country's handling of the Gaza war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
South Dakota governor sued over Texas dentist promo
speed read Gov. Kristi Noem posted a video testimonial that may have been an "undisclosed advertisement"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hur defends description of Biden's 'poor memory'
speed read Former special counsel Robert Hur defended disparaging remarks made about Biden's age in his report
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pentagon's surprise $300M for Ukraine
speed read The Pentagon is giving $300 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, mostly for ammunition
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump clinch nominations
speed read The current and former president have each secured enough delegates for an election rematch
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti leader agrees to exit amid growing chaos
speed read Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies fold RNC into Trump campaign
speed read The new leaders of the Republican National Committee fired more than 60 of the RNC's 200 employees
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published