File this under: “Ironic.”
Donald Trump, the man who’s built his campaign around a “strong, tall, beautiful wall” to keep undocumented immigrants from entering the country, had to resort to some fence hopping on Thursday to avoid a large mob of angry protesters.
Video from local CBS station KPIX-TV in San Francisco shows the GOP frontrunner arriving at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport shortly after noon on Friday, where he was forced to scale a fence and enter through the back of the hotel. The move was prompted by an anti-Trump potest outside the California Republican convention, where he was scheduled to speak.
KPIX-TV reporters tweeted out video of protesters breaking through the barricades and running toward the hotel.
#trump Protestors broke through the barricades and are running Towards the hotel. #CaGOP @CBSSF
— Emily Turner (@turner_loose) April 29, 2016
Protestors have jumped barricade and stormed front of hotel. Police running to stop them pic.twitter.com/aPLi05hDce
— Maria Cid Medina (@Maria_MedinaTV) April 29, 2016
A large number of police officers were on hand to help avoid a repeat of Thursday night, when roughly 20 people were arrested at a Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Trump’s event was at the OC Fair & Event Center, but the drama mostly occurred in the streets outside the venue. The GOP frontrunner claimed on Twitter that 31,000 people attended the rally and “thousands” more were turned away.
At least one police car was damaged and several scuffles broke out amid the chaotic scene. Protestors also blocked traffic and one Trump supporter appeared bloody after reportedly being punched in the face.
“I’m against Trump’s nativist and nationalistic agenda, which divides people and is very hateful of the other,” protester Rojelio Banuelos told CNN.