Trump's Comments About Protester 'Not Particularly Surprising,' WH Says

ByBENJAMIN SIEGEL ABCNews logo
Monday, November 23, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments about a Black Lives Matter protester getting roughed up at Trump's Alabama rally over the weekend were "not particularly surprising," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said today.

"This is not a departure from Mr. Trump's habits," Earnest said. "The fact that he might condone violence against a protester is not particularly surprising to me."

A Black Lives Matter protester was tossed out of Trump's Birmingham rally Saturday and was kicked by audience members on the way out, according a Secret Service agent who was involved in breaking up the altercation.

Three individuals were asked to leave the venue but no arrested were made, according to the Birmingham Police Department.

Trump's campaign spokesman Hope Hicks said the Trump campaign "does not condone this behavior." But in an interview Sunday on Fox News, Trump called the protester "obnoxious" and said "maybe he should have been roughed up."

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