Trump calls out Cincinnati’s ‘Democrat mayor’ as protesters escorted out

CINCINNATI — President Trump on Thursday called out Cincinnati’s “Democrat mayor” at a campaign rally in the Ohio city as protesters were escorted out of the arena during a minutes-long confrontation.

“Democrat lawmakers care more about illegal aliens than they care about their own constituents,” Trump told the audience, prompting applause. “They put foreign citizens before American citizens. We’re not going to do that.”{mosads}

Attention turned to a group of protesters in the arena who were holding up a banner that read, “Immigrants built America,” which was torn up in a brawl that interrupted Trump’s speech for more than two minutes. 

Scuffle breaks out in Trump crowd after protesters held up “immigrants built America” sign. Trump supporters tried to rip the sign out of their hands. pic.twitter.com/taCRKxoCqe

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2019

Trump, after spending minutes watching the scuffle, approached the podium and asked, “Democrat mayor?”

“You must have a Democrat mayor. Do you have a Democrat mayor? Come on, law enforcement. Democrat mayor,” he said, again pausing as the protesters were escorted out of the arena, prompting a mixture of cheers and booing.

He continued: “Well, that’s what happens.”

Trump’s rally took place just one day after 2020 Democratic presidential candidates took the stage in Detroit for the second round of primary debates.

Cincinnati’s mayor is John Cranley, who is a Democrat.