Protesters interrupt Trump as he rallies faithful

On a night where protests outside of a Donald Trump rally drew national attention, plenty also disrupted the Republican presidential candidate’s speech inside the Albuquerque Convention Center. It’s not as if the Trump campaign wasn’t expecting it. Before the likely GOP presidential nominee walked onto the stage, a voice on loudspeaker told the crowd how […]

Protesters interrupt Trump as he rallies faithful

On a night where protests outside of a Donald Trump rally drew national attention, plenty also disrupted the Republican presidential candidate’s speech inside the Albuquerque Convention Center.

DSC_0587
Donald Trump at Albuquerque Convention Center.

It’s not as if the Trump campaign wasn’t expecting it.

Before the likely GOP presidential nominee walked onto the stage, a voice on loudspeaker told the crowd how to treat potential protesters.

“If a protester starts demonstrating, please do not touch or harm the protester,” the announcer said, prompting some scattered boos from the crowd. Trump previously said he’d like to punch one of the protestors at a rally in the face.

Related: Protests turn chaotic outside Trump rally

When Trump entered the rally, his campaign blared “Get Ready for This,” the upbeat 1990s dance song commonly played at sporting events.

“We’re going to win this thing,”  Trump began, to cheers. “They love me, they love me. We’re winning, we’re winning. ”

But early into the speech, Javier Benavidez, the executive director of the Southwest Organizing Project, sat in the stands behind Trump and repeatedly shouted, “Stop the hate!” As security escorted Benavidez down, Trump waved goodbye to him.

“The safest place to be anywhere in the country is a Trump rally,” Trump said, to more cheers.

He then started talking about recent disruptions at the Democratic Party Convention in Nevada, where supporters of Bernie Sanders clashed with supporters of Hillary Clinton over delegates.

“This is happening to the Democrats now!” Trump said.

As Trump began to claim that 40 percent of Sanders supporters would vote for him against Clinton, protesters in the bleachers once again interrupted Trump, this time in the bleachers to his left.

“Well, maybe not those Sanders supporters,” Trump said while watching the police escort them down from the bleachers and outside the hall.

Some of their signs this time read, “undocumented and here to stay.” One of Trump’s campaign platforms involves forcibly deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

Trump resumed and started talking about Clinton, only to be heckled once again by another crowd in the same bleachers to his left. This time the protesters draped signs that read “Trump’s a fascist,” and “we’ve heard enough.”

“Go home to mommy,” Trump told the protesters as security escorted them outside the building.

Trump did get to talk uninterrupted, spending a good amount of time telling a story about how he hosted a fundraiser that raised more than $5 million for veterans but got bad media coverage for it. But media coverage has found his claims on the amount of money raised inaccurate.

“They started writing stories like, ‘Why didn’t this money do here, why didn’t it go there?’” Trump said. “I am the only one who can raise over $5 million for the vets and yet get bad publicity.”

Soon, a woman sitting in the bleachers behind Trump erupted into a protest. This time, security literally dragged her down the stairs as the crowd cheered.

“They used to call it the silent majority,” Trump said of his crowd. “Now they call it the noisy majority!”

Trump went into his usual talking points, attacking Clinton for her husband’s signing of the North American Free Trade Act in the 1990s when he was president.Trump critized the deal, saying it resulted in companies moving overseas to do business.

As for his trademark proposal to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico border and making Mexico pay for it, Trump said he locals before the rally if he should bring up the talking point in New Mexico, a state with the highest proportion of Latinos in the country.

“The told me, ‘Absolutely, bring up the wall,’” Trump said to cheers.

Another protester, apparently young-looking, soon erupted.

“How old is he?” Trump asked the crowd. “He looks like he’s in his diapers.”

As Trump’s stream of consciousness talking style went on—at one point he brought up the issue of “cell phones with Syrian flags”—he eventually defended his speaking style itself.

“You ever seen some of these teleprompter people?” he said, mocking the device that many politicians use when giving public speeches. “When the teleprompter doesn’t work, they don’t know what to do! They walk off the stage. It’s ridiculous.”

Trump also took shots at Gov. Susana Martinez, who has refused to endorse him and has criticized his rhetoric. Martinez is also chair of the Republican Governors Association, which promotes Republican candidates for governor across the country.

Trump cited the number of unemployed people in Albuquerque nearly doubling since 2000 and the state’s rising number of food stamp beneficiaries.

“We have to get your governor to get going,” Trump said. “She’s got to do a better job, OK?”

Martinez did not attend the Trump rally, telling media outlets that she was too busy. But state Rep. Jim Smith, R-Sandia Park, Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis and former state Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh were seen there.

Former State Rep. David Chavez spoke before Trump, and joked about the deaths of Clinton and Sanders.

“If Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are on a boat together — if they’re on a boat together and it sinks. Who survives? America!”

Chavez also evoked Martinez’ long battle to end driver’s licenses for immigrants in the country illegally.

“Have you ever tried to get a driver’s license in another country without being a citizen?” Chavez said. “If you’re offended by immigration comments from Donald Trump, it’s time to get over it and get on the Trump train.”

Other Trump talking points included closing U.S. military bases in Germany and Japan (“We’re defending the world, folks,” Trump said), “knocking the hell out of ISIS,” repealing and replacing Obamacare, and fixing the Transportation Security Administration, which he called “a disaster.”

“Our airports are a disaster,” Trump said. “Everything we’ve done in this country is a disaster.”

Protests also periodically erupted in the crowd in front of Trump, including from a group of teenagers that jumped around and made noise.

“Yeah, get them out of here,” Trump signaled to security.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

New Mexico will receive millions in federal money to increase access to solar power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced recipients of the $7…
Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Friday to designate two types of PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances. Those two chemicals are perfluorooctanoic…
BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

BLM finalizes controversial public lands rule

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management finalized its controversial public lands rule on Thursday. This rule is controversial because it allows for conservation leasing…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced a bill on Thursday that would, if enacted, establish judicial ethics to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judicial Ethics…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

How the AZ Supreme Court decision on abortion impacts New Mexico

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that an 1864 abortion ban is enforceable, throwing another state bordering New Mexico into the situation of…
Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

New Mexico will receive millions in federal money to increase access to solar power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced recipients of the $7…
Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Friday to designate two types of PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances. Those two chemicals are perfluorooctanoic…
New Mexico Voices for Children has new leadership

New Mexico Voices for Children has new leadership

New Mexico Voices for Children, an organization that focuses on tax policy and how it impacts children in poverty, has new leadership. Gabrielle Uballez…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report