Trump Calls Campus Protesters 'Raging Lunatics' at Campaign Rallies

Former President Donald Trump held campaign rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday, where he called campus protesters 'raging lunatics' and suggested they were hired to distract from border crossings. Trump also praised police action against pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University, where about 300 people were arrested.

Confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and police have continued on campuses across the United States, with arrests reported at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and tensions high at UCLA's campus in Los Angeles "The protests have taken on political overtones in the run-up to the presidential election, with Republicans accusing some university administrators of turning a blind eye to antisemitic rhetoric and harassment," according to one summary.

Trump faces a criminal trial in New York related to hush money payments, but he brushed off the impact of his current and future trials, saying the 'weaponization of the Justice Department' hasn't worked well for his opponents. The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a rematch between Trump and President Biden, with key issues like abortion rights being debated.

Why this matters: The campus protests and Trump's inflammatory rhetoric have emerged as a new flashpoint in the presidential race. While Biden has taken a more nuanced approach of supporting peaceful protests but condemning violence, Trump's comments are seen as part of a broader Republican strategy to reframe left-leaning protests as 'insurrections.'

At the rallies, Trump attacked President Joe Biden on the economy and crime. He claimed the border is the 'worst in the history of the world' and accused Biden of unleashing 'mayhem' on the economy. Trump said this campaign is not a revenge tour, but rather about making the country successful again. The latest Marquette University Law School poll showed Trump with a slight lead over Biden in Wisconsin, a key battleground state.

Key Takeaways

• Trump held rallies, called campus protesters 'lunatics' and praised police action.
• Confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and police continue on US campuses.
• Trump faces a criminal trial in NY but brushes off its impact, sees 2024 rematch with Biden.
• Trump attacked Biden on economy, crime, and border, claims to make US successful again.
• Latest poll shows Trump with slight lead over Biden in key battleground state Wisconsin.