At least 18 people were removed from Donald Trump’s campaign rally in San Antonio after interrupting his speech. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said no arrests were made and two people received criminal trespass citations.
The rally took place Wednesday evening at Freeman Coliseum. Some people were escorted out by law enforcement or security, while others appeared to leave on their own. Trump mocked protesters from the stage as the crowd jeered. The sheriff’s office said everyone was asked to leave the venue, but no arrests were made.
Less than 10 minutes into the speech, one attendee yelled while moving away from the stage. A man in a red hat grabbed the person’s hair, leading to a scuffle. Other attendees separated them. More people were escorted out over the next hour. In some cases, protesters and Trump supporters became physical. At least one person was handcuffed before being led out.
Trump joked that one protester was going home to a mother who had voted for him and mocked the appearance of other people removed from the venue. CBS reported that Trump spoke for more than an hour, criticizing Democrat James Talarico, who is competing with Republican Ken Paxton for a Texas Senate seat. Trump called Talarico too liberal and claimed his election would bring decline to the state. Trump also spent much of the rally discussing immigration and a drop in unauthorized border crossings.
It was Trump’s third trip to Texas in recent weeks to support Paxton. CBS said most polls showed Talarico with a narrow edge or the race essentially tied. Paxton, the state attorney general, defeated Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary earlier this year.