Protests erupted outside a Donald Trump rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tuesday night, overshadowing Trump’s victory in Washington state’s Republican primary. Police said anti-Trump demonstrators threw rocks and bottles, overturned barricades, lit fires and smashed the glass door to the Albuquerque Convention Center, where Trump was speaking. Police descended on the protesters on horseback and in riot gear, using pepper spray and smoke bombs. Inside the convention center, protesters repeatedly interrupted Trump, who responded by taunting them.
Donald Trump: “You know, they’re Bernie Sanders supporters, but I’m hearing that we’re going to get about 40 percent of Bernie Sanders’, because he’s not going to win. The system is rigged against Bernie Sanders, so he can’t win, but I’m hearing we’re going to get close to 40 percent of his supporters. Maybe not these people, though. All right, get ’em out of here. Get ’em out. Get ’em out of here.”
Donald Trump won the Republican primary in Washington state with over 77 percent of the vote Tuesday, bringing him closer to clinching the Republican presidential nomination. His rivals, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich, have dropped out of the race. Meanwhile, Republican Party leaders are reportedly considering changes to the presidential nominating process following Trump’s success, including closing Republican contests to independents.