Trump fires up his supporters after clashes in Washington
DONALD TRUMP poured fuel on to fiery confrontations around the White House on Saturday night, encouraging Washington DC police not to “hold back” after pro-trump demonstrators were attacked by a small group of counter-protesters as they left the capital.
A crowd estimated by Fox News and USA Today to be in the tens of thousands, and by The Washington Post to number thousands, gathered for a largely peaceful protest on Saturday. Most were Trump fans who had travelled to attend, but some were members of far-right groups such as the Proud
‘Radical Left Antifa scum was easily rebuffed today by the big DC MAGA rally crowd only to return at night’
Boys, or self-styled militias including Oath Keepers. The crowd was addressed by Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist.
As the masses dispersed, there were multiple scuffles near the White House, with diners at an outdoor restaurant standing and watching as pro- and antiTrump demonstrators brawled in the street. Counter-protesters stole MAGA baseball caps from the heads of Trump supporters as they walked away, ripped Trump flags from them and overturned tables of merchandise.
One woman was seen, in a brief clip with no context, hitting an elderly woman in the head as she walked away. Another set fire to a MAGA cap.
A man was stabbed after a fight between supporters and counter-protesters, the emergency services said. At least 20 arrests were made.
Shortly before midnight, Mr Trump weighed in, praising his supporters for “fighting back” and providing a gleeful commentary on the running battles.
“Radical Left ANTIFA SCUM was easily rebuffed today by the big D.C. MAGA Rally crowd, only to return at night, after 99 per cent of the crowd had left, to assault elderly people and families,” he said on Twitter. “Police got there, but late. Mayor is not doing her job!”
He added: “DC Police, get going – do your job and don’t hold back!”