RNC Chair on Trump Rally Violence: ‘Leave It to the Professionals’
RNC Chair Reince Priebus says "violence is never the answer."
— -- Just a day after Donald Trump's campaign manager appeared to grab the collar of a protester at a Trump rally in Tucson, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says Trump supporters should “leave it to the professionals” when it comes to quelling interruptions
“The sheriff there was in the crowd and the Secret Service is there and it’s their job to do it,” Priebus told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” Sunday.
“It’s obviously not completely in my control what happens at these rallies and what people say and do, but I would leave it to the professionals,” he said.
The interview comes on the heels of major protests at Trump’s rally last night, including video appearing to show campaign manager Corey Lewandowski grabbing the collar of one of the protesters in the venue.
“My point would be leave those things to the professionals,” he said, adding he didn’t know the specifics of the incident allegedly involving Lewandowski. “Don’t get involved in crowds in those altercations, and that’s why the pros are there.”
The Trump campaign issued a statement yesterday saying a member of Trump’s security force next to Lewandowski pulled the protester’s collar and denying that Lewandowski touched him.
Priebus added that he has been talking to Trump campaign officials about the violence and that both the party and the campaign agree that “violence is never the answer.”