Fresh off his second-place finish in the Iowa caucus earlier this week, Donald Trump made a campaign stop at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock tonight, Feb. 3.
Due to flight issues, Trump was about two hours late for the rally, originally scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. In true Trump style, he turned his lateness into a jab at Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Trump on stage at Barton Coliseum
“The people of Arkansas are great,” he told the crowd of 11,500, a record for the venue. “Bill and Hillary Clinton left Arkansas.”
Trump also took jabs at fellow Republican and Iowa caucus winner Ted Cruz, questioning his eligibility to run for president because the Texas senator was born in Canada. He also called Cruz “a liar” for saying that Trump supported the Affordable Care Act.
“He shouldn’t be running for president if he’s not allowed to serve,” Trump said.
Trump vows to repeal and replace Obamacare #arpx
â AR Money & Politics (@amppob) February 4, 2016
James Watson
Pine Bluff resident James Watson, 56, said he recently registered to vote for the first time and plans to vote for Trump in Arkansas’ primary election on March 1. He said he appreciates Trump’s business knowledge and dedication to the military.
“What he says affects my life,” Watson said. “He loves his country. I believe in his American dream.”
In his approximately 30-mintue speech, Trump vowed to protect Second Amendment rights, expressed his belief that the U.S. unemployment rate is higher than reported, discussed his plans to make Mexico pay to build a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border and attacked politicians in general.
“Politicians are all talk and no action,” he said.
Trump: ‘I want education to be local. No more Common Core.’ #arpx
â AR Money & Politics (@amppob) February 4, 2016
Trump: ‘Christianity is under siege.’
â AR Money & Politics (@amppob) February 4, 2016
Trump’s speech was interrupted several times by protesters, who were escorted out by security. And, outside of Barton Coliseum, crowds of protesters lined up along Roosevelt Road.
“I love the protesters because it’s the only way the cameras will show how big the crowd is,” he said.
Trump plans to spend the next few days in New Hampshire ahead of that state’s primary on Feb. 9. And, he said, he’s in the race to win.
“If I don’t win, I’ve wasted a lot of time and a lot of money,” he said.
Here is a gallery of more photos from Trump’s Little Rock visit:
