After controversy erupted when a Donald Trump supporter sucker-punched a protester, the GOP frontrunner is now defending his fans’ actions.
Trump defended his supporters' treatment of protesters at a Florida press conference on Friday, saying those who've been attacked were "violent people."
At a North Carolina rally Wednesday, 78-year-old John McGraw sucker-punched protester Rakeem Jones and was captured on video saying, "Next time, we might have to kill him." On Friday, Trump described Jones as "swinging" at others in the crowd and said it was "very, very appropriate" this his supporters decided to "swing back." Jones, however, said he and his friends were peaceful protesters who never touched anyone else in the crowd.
Also on Friday, the Jupiter Police Department announced it was investigating an alleged battery from a March 8 Trump rally. Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields filed a police report alleging Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski forcibly yanked her, according to Time.
Lewandowski responded by calling Fields delusional:
@MichelleFields you are totally delusional. I never touched you. As a matter of fact, I have never even met you.
Trump concluded on Friday by saying his supporters have "tremendous passion and love for their country," and that his protesters are "bad dudes." The billionaire said he believes they are "dangerous, and they get in there and they start hitting people."
Trump has a rally scheduled in Chicago on Friday, and more than 10,000 protesters are expected to attend.
