COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) – Protests broke out Thursday night as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought his campaign to Southern California following his Northeast GOP primary sweep.
Raucous crowds of protesters took to the streets in Orange County as Trump, the billionaire real estate mogul who is close to clinching the GOP presidential nomination, gave a campaign speech at the Pacific Amphitheater.
Heated words were exchanged as Trump supporters clashed outside with counter-demonstrators.
Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. The brash businessman on occasion has directly challenged protesters from the podium, saying they should be expelled.
On Thursday night, heated words were exchanged after people wearing expletive-laden anti-Trump shirts began to taunt people waiting in line to attend his speech at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.