“Who canceled the Trump rally?”
I saw Trump on Greta last night. He very specifically said he made the decision in order to prevent violence.
Consider the situation the Secret Service likely laid out to Trump:
1) Insufficient police and private security inside and outside the facility to handle a riot.
2) Protesters were organized by professional agitators who would likely provoke aggressive confrontation and violence.
3) Protesters inside the facility were present in sufficient numbers to rush the stage and overwhelm security unless security used force to push them back.
4) If Trump was in imminent danger the SS would be compelled to use weapons. In that even both protesters and innocent supporters would be wounded and die.
5) In the event of gunfire and fatalities inside the facility there would be riots outside the facility and possibly across the country. Thousands of people would be wounded or killed. It is possible the SS provided him with evidence organizers around the country were prepared to take to the streets immediately upon reports of violence in Chicago.
In addition Trump was fully aware during the week leading up to the rally the press, his opponents, and Democrats had suddenly started repeating the meme that Trump and his supporters were violent and Trump’s rallies were places where violence was encouraged. Trump is smart enough to know the sudden focus on the issue of violence at Trump events in the media wasn’t coincidental.
Given the facts at hand, the businessman Trump made the rational decision. He weighed the risks and determined the danger to his supporters, and possibly himself, was too great. It was clear the protesters were organized for violence and by not appearing he could diffuse the event. He consciously chose peace over violence.
It is interesting that no one (politicians, commentators, journalists) is talking about the fact the protesters are deliberately inciting violence. Without the aggressive behavior of the protesters there would be no violence. Why are those who know better in unison condemning as violent the person who chose not to assert his free speech rights when he knew doing so would likely lead to violence? Trump showed great restraint and leadership in stepping back given the circumstances.
We have now seen Trump tested in a real world situation. We’ve also seen the response of Cruz, Kasich, and Rubio when given the opportunity to condemn those promote violence and deny free speech.
Yes. And I was a little surprised the protesters were able to run Trump out of town. I, and a lot of others, were expecting Trump to stand firm and hold his ground. Especially, after all his bold talk for the past months.
Of all the people that have been on the stage, Trump is the last one I expected to fold and slip out the back door.
This is especially troubling in view of the fact Trump has announced he will negotiate with terrorists (Palestinians who speak for Hamas). I'm a little concerned.