Scuffles erupt at Trump rally in Las Vegas

A campaign rally for Donald Trump on the eve of the GOP presidential debate in Las Vegas was repeatedly interrupted by protesters and marred by several scuffles, according to reporters at the scene Monday night.

{mosads}A Washington Post reporter described “chaotic physical confrontations” at the rally, with Trump turning to mock members of the media for covering the protests, suggesting cameras only show the size of his audiences when there’s conflict in the room.

BuzzFeed reporter McKay Coppins posted short videos on Twitter of security responding to protesters, including handling a man who was on the ground. A male voice in the video was heard saying, “Light the motherf**ker on fire.” But it’s unclear from the video who was speaking to whom.

And about ten minutes into the Trump rally, this happens. pic.twitter.com/65pXHjsJ3x

— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) December 15, 2015

This is the 5th or 6th scuffle to break out at Trump rally between activists and security (w/ Trump fans cheering) pic.twitter.com/sxL2OnZg2g

— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) December 15, 2015

Other reporters shared images and tweets of several extremely tense exchanges during the rally.

Video – a squabble in Las Vegas just now between demonstrators, Trump supporters and security. Intense. pic.twitter.com/15NCUAsF0C

— Kurtis Lee (@kurtisalee) December 15, 2015

Another protestor, another similar reaction from crowd — screaming, pointing, one man shoves a protestor towards door.

— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) December 15, 2015

The Hill’s Jonathan Swan reported that the crowd arrived two hours before the real estate tycoon took to the stage and offered several chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump” at the rowdy event.

Trump will be center stage Tuesday night in Vegas at the fifth GOP debate.