Trump Calls Out Protester Wearing a Turban: 'He Wasn't Wearing One of Those Hats, Was He?'
MUSCATINE, Iowa -- A protester wearing a turban interrupted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rare Sunday appearance and the GOP front-runner called out the man as he was escorted away by security.
Trump had been talking about the Sept. 11 terror attacks and the San Bernardino shooting during this campaign event in Muscatine, Iowa.
The man in a bright red turban stood up and revealed a sign reading "Stop Hate."
Trump stopped his remarks as the crowd chanted "USA, USA, USA." When they quieted down, Trump pointed into the audience.
Referring to the protester while appearing to also point to a supporter in the audience, Trump said, "He wasn't wearing one of those hats was he? And he never will, and that's OK because we got to do something folks because it's not working."
In the last few months, before Trump takes the stage an announcement is read telling Trump's supporters to "not harm a protester" but instead to chant "Trump, Trump, Trump," as an alert to security that a protester has been spotted. The crowd roared Sunday after the protester was escorted out and shouted "USA, USA, USA."
In the home run stretch before voters head to the polls next Monday in the Hawkeye state, Trump said he is feeling good.
"It's crunch time folks. I mean, I want to win Iowa, I really want to win it, now it's possible that I don't and if we don't we go on to New Hampshire and I think we'll do great in New Hampshire, but I really want to win Iowa," Trump said to a small group of reporters before taking the stage.
The Republican establishment's embrace of Trump continued when Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann introduced Trump before his rally.
"On caucus night, you’re going to hand someone to me. At the end of this process, you’re going to hand someone to me. ... If you folks hand Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, the Republican party of Iowa and this Republican chair will be behind him 1,000 percent," Kaufmann said, although he is not endorsing anyone in the race.
Kaufmann called Trump a patriotic and capable guy telling Trump’s supporters that it's OK to be angry because he’s angry too. Kaufmann also praised the energy Trump has brought "into this party" and "into this country."
"I woke up this morning and the headlines read, the 'Civil War of the Republican Party,'" Kaufmann said. "Folks, we’re not having a civil war we’re having a vigorous debate because the last eight years have made us mad."
