Protests and racial tensions have recently escalated at Trump rallies. On Thursday, a man attending a Trump rally this week was charged with assault after he allegedly sucker-punched a black protester being led out of a Trump event.
Last fall, Trump said a Black Lives Matter protester maybe "should have been roughed up." And despite an announcement at the start of his rallies urging protesters not to be violent toward protesters, Trump in February urged his supporters to "knock the crap out of" anybody "getting ready to throw a tomato" and vowed to pay for their legal fees should they face charges.
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"Knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. OK? Just knock the hell -- I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise," Trump said.
And Trump also said he personally wanted to punch a protester "in the face" during a rally in February.
But at CNN's Republican debate on Thursday, Trump insisted that he did not support violence at his events.
"I certainly do not condone that at all," Trump said, adding, "We have some protesters who are bad dudes. They have done bad things."
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