Wild scene outside Trump meetings

Scores of protesters, members of the media and gawkers gathered outside Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters on Thursday morning hoping to catch a glimpse of Donald Trump.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee briefly waved to the crowd, giving onlookers a thumbs-up after emerging from a caravan escorting him to meetings with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and other party figures.

Not a Trump fan pic.twitter.com/pNwomyIDX9

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 12, 2016

One protester wore a massive paper mache mask resembling Trump while others carried signs saying calling Trump a racist. Several were with the protest group Code Pink, which has a regular presence on Capitol Hill.

Dozens of media outlets, including top anchors from the major networks, crowded the sidewalk with cameras pointed at the closed doors of the RNC building.

I could watch this guy all day pic.twitter.com/JUOv1MTaFr

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 12, 2016

Capitol Hill staffers lingered on their way to work, taking in the scene.

House GOP leaders, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.), went into the RNC building through a side alley, avoiding the protestors.

About a dozen pro-immigrant activists staked out the entrance, holding signs and chanting through a bullhorn condemning Trump and the Republican Party.

The media had by far the biggest presence outside the meeting. Dozens of cameramen followed the various characters who showed up, including a bagpiper with no political interests and a Trump supporter blowing on a shofar and singing church hymns.

Trump has a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill as he seeks inroads among the GOP leaders who have been hesitant to embrace his candidacy.

Ryan last week said he wasn’t ready to endorse Trump, and his meeting with Ryan is getting the most attention.

Trump will also meet on the Senate side of the Capitol with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other Republican senators.

In this business, you file where you can pic.twitter.com/xiWG5MFwwD

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 12, 2016

Press staked out at back entrance of RNC by Tortilla Coast pic.twitter.com/tZLzb3xiZ4

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) May 12, 2016