Violent protests broke out outside a Donald Trump rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with demonstrators setting fire to campaign merchandise and clashing with police. The unrest occurred at the Albuquerque Convention Center, where protesters threw burning T-shirts and plastic bottles at officers, prompting police to respond with pepper spray and smoke grenades.
The protest began peacefully hours before the rally but turned violent as Trump supporters arrived, leading to exchanges of racial insults and thrown water bottles. The crowd swelled to over 600, with some protesters holding banners reading 'Trump is Fascist' and waving Mexican flags. Police reported that bottles and rocks were thrown at officers and horses, resulting in several injuries.
Inside the rally, Trump addressed a crowd of 4,000, making sharp remarks about a young protester and criticising New Mexico's Republican governor, Susana Martinez. He accused her of failing the state's economy and allowing Syrian refugees to resettle. Martinez's office responded that she 'will not be bullied into supporting a candidate' until he proves he will fight for New Mexicans.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent disruptions at Trump rallies, following a cancelled event in Chicago in March. The Albuquerque rally marked the start of Trump's tour of New Mexico, a state with a large Hispanic population where his comments on immigration have caused significant anger.
