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| Trump blames violent rally incident on protester in KKK costume – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.28pm GMT | |
| 14:28 | |
| Edward Helmore | |
| Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, has popped up on Fox News Sunday. Ed Helmore was watching as McConnell offered a variation on his theme for the day – the supreme court nomination of judge Merrick Garland ain’t going nowhere just yet: | |
| We need to focus on principle. You have to go back 80 years to find a vacancy that was filled in an election year. The president nominates, we decide to confirm. But the American people need to weigh in, and they’ll do that in November. It’s a long-standing tradition to not confirm supreme court nominees in an election year. Americans are choosing their next president, the next president should chose the nominee. | |
| White House chief of staff Denis McDonough responded: | |
| We think it’s clear in the constitution that when there is a vacancy the president proposes a nominee and that’s been practice for decades or centuries. The nominee then goes before meetings and public hearings. Then they go before a vote in the committee and a vote in the Senate. That’s what you have to do. It’s that simple. | |
| 2.22pm GMT | |
| 14:22 | |
| Trump defends manager over video | |
| Stephanopoulos asks Trump about his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who appeared to yank a protester’s collar at a rally on Saturday. | |
| “I give him credit for having spirit, he wanted them to take down those horrible profanity laced signs,” Trump says. “Security at the arena, the police were a little bit lax,” he goes on. | |
| “They had signs up in that area were horrendous,” he goes on, adding that some used “the ultimate word”. He again defends Lewandowski, who has also been accused of assaulting a reporter. “I will give him credit, spirit. Now, he didn’t touch!” | |
| Stephanopoulos moves on to a related question, about Trump’s suggestion that there will be riots should Republicans at an open convention try to prevent him from winning the nomination. Would he tell his supporters not to riot? | |
| Trump: “I would certainly tell them that. But look, these people are fervent, they want to see positive things.” | |
| He says he wants peace, though he can’t promise it: “I don’t want to see riots, I don’t want to see problems, but you have millions of people your’e talking about.” | |
| “You’re going to have a lot of very unhappy people,” he adds. | |
| Finally, Stephanopoulos asks about Trump’s speech to the pro-Israel group AIPAC, scheduled for Monday. Trump has raised hackles with comments that he would be “neutral” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | |
| “There’s nobody more pro-Israel than I am,” Trump says. “We’ll see what happens. I think making a deal would be in Israel’s interest. I don’t know one Jewish person that doesn’t want to have a deal. A good deal, a proper deal.” | |
| Here is Donald Trump's campaign manager in the Tucson crowd grabbing the collar of a protester. pic.twitter.com/JZ9RntWlHY | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.27pm GMT | |
| 2.14pm GMT | |
| 14:14 | |
| Trump blames protesters for violence against them | |
| Donald Trump is the first presidential candidate to appear on ABC’s This Week with host George Stephanopoulos. Trump calls in. | |
| The first question is about violence: what more will you do to stop the attacks against protesters? | |
| Trump begins with a rambling response: “Well it’s not only Tucson, we had a great rally right next to Phoenix, 21,000” people. He alludes to protests in Arizona. “I think it’s really unfair that these really, in many cases professional, in may cases sick, protesters could put cars in a road, blocking in many,” he says. “It’s a very unfair double standard. Why don’t you mention that people were delayed for an hour.” | |
| Stephanopoulos does not point out that a delay for an hour is not tantamount to being punched in the face, but does press Trump on the violence. | |
| “These people are very disruptive people,” Trump says of the protesters. He talks about a demonstrator who was sucker-punched and kicked on the ground. “Well you know he or his partner was wearing a Ku klux Klan outfit, Trump says, although video of the attack shows the protester is wearing an American flag shirt. | |
| “This happened to be an African American man who was very very incensed that someone a protester would be wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit,” Trump says of the crowd member who attacked the protester. | |
| Stephanopoulos: you seem to be condoning the violence. | |
| “That was a tough thing to watch,” Trump doesn’t answer. He asks why would a protester wear a Ku Klux Klan outfit. “You would’ve seen him just before he went up the stairs him and his partner, one of them” wore the outfit, he insists. | |
| Earlier this month Trump waffled on whether to denounce a former Ku Klux Klan leader and white supremacist groups in general. | |
| Related: Trump wavers on calls to condemn former KKK leader and hate groups | |
| We don’t condone violence,” Trump says. “And we have very little violence.” This is a departure from Trump’s earlier claims, after scuffles in Chicago, that his rallies have had no violent incidents. | |
| “At one point do people blame the protesters,” the businessman says, returning to his claim that there’s a double standard. “These are professional agitators. I think that somebody should say that when a road is blocked going into the event.” | |
| He blames “tremendous profanity” on signs for inciting violence. “I think maybe those people have some blame and should suffer some blame also.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.26pm GMT | |
| 1.45pm GMT | 1.45pm GMT |
| 13:45 | 13:45 |
| Republican party chairman Reince Priebus appears next on the CNN program. Host Dana Bash asks him about violence at Donald Trump rallies. | Republican party chairman Reince Priebus appears next on the CNN program. Host Dana Bash asks him about violence at Donald Trump rallies. |
| “No, it’s not the image” that Republicans want to project, Priebus says. “It’s not the image we are projecting, it’s an image that’s been out there unfortunately at some rallies.” | “No, it’s not the image” that Republicans want to project, Priebus says. “It’s not the image we are projecting, it’s an image that’s been out there unfortunately at some rallies.” |
| “I would say leave these things up to the professionals,” he says, vaguely. He seems to mean police and private security, which does not get to the heart of the question, about a tone that encourages and condones violence between protesters and supporters. | “I would say leave these things up to the professionals,” he says, vaguely. He seems to mean police and private security, which does not get to the heart of the question, about a tone that encourages and condones violence between protesters and supporters. |
| “Getting involved in confrontations, violence is not the answer, getting involved is not the answer,” he concludes, doing his utmost not to get involved in the question of whether Donald Trump’s campaign manager grabbed a protester a week after allegedly grabbing a reporter. | “Getting involved in confrontations, violence is not the answer, getting involved is not the answer,” he concludes, doing his utmost not to get involved in the question of whether Donald Trump’s campaign manager grabbed a protester a week after allegedly grabbing a reporter. |
| Bash moves on, to the question of a contested convention, which Priebus last week dubbed “unlikely”. | Bash moves on, to the question of a contested convention, which Priebus last week dubbed “unlikely”. |
| “When someone’s a little bit short you let the process play out,” the chairman says of the delegate race. “The minority of delegates doesn’t rule for the majority.” | “When someone’s a little bit short you let the process play out,” the chairman says of the delegate race. “The minority of delegates doesn’t rule for the majority.” |
| “This is the first time in a long time people actually care about delegate count,” he continues. “The majority of delegates in our party choose the nominee.” | “This is the first time in a long time people actually care about delegate count,” he continues. “The majority of delegates in our party choose the nominee.” |
| Priebus cites his own experience. “I won on the seventh ballot as chairman,” he says, “I had to fight and fight and fight, but that’s how it works.” | Priebus cites his own experience. “I won on the seventh ballot as chairman,” he says, “I had to fight and fight and fight, but that’s how it works.” |
| He insists that Trump voters should not feel “disenfranchised”: “in fact they’re empowered by the delegates they receive”. | He insists that Trump voters should not feel “disenfranchised”: “in fact they’re empowered by the delegates they receive”. |
| What about the convention rules? Are Trump fans right to fear some convention jiggery-pokery in favor of a different candidate? | What about the convention rules? Are Trump fans right to fear some convention jiggery-pokery in favor of a different candidate? |
| “The 2016 rules committee writes the rules for the 2016 convention,” Priebus says. He clarifies that “the rules committee that was made up of [Mitt] Romney convention” in 2012 will not run the show for this year’s committee, “which’ll largely be made of Trump-Cruz delegates”. | “The 2016 rules committee writes the rules for the 2016 convention,” Priebus says. He clarifies that “the rules committee that was made up of [Mitt] Romney convention” in 2012 will not run the show for this year’s committee, “which’ll largely be made of Trump-Cruz delegates”. |
| “This is very simple. the delegates get elected, the delegates filled the slots on these many committees,” he says. “These delegates make the decisions on the governance of the convention they’re part of.” | “This is very simple. the delegates get elected, the delegates filled the slots on these many committees,” he says. “These delegates make the decisions on the governance of the convention they’re part of.” |
| Of particular worry to some non-Trump supporters is a 2012 rule that requires a candidate win eight states for their name to be eligible. Ted Cruz has won seven, John Kasich has won one. | Of particular worry to some non-Trump supporters is a 2012 rule that requires a candidate win eight states for their name to be eligible. Ted Cruz has won seven, John Kasich has won one. |
| 1.33pm GMT | 1.33pm GMT |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| Bash asks McConnell about the presidential election, noting that the Senate majority leader called Donald Trump last week to ask him to tone it down on his encouragement of violent supporters. | Bash asks McConnell about the presidential election, noting that the Senate majority leader called Donald Trump last week to ask him to tone it down on his encouragement of violent supporters. |
| McConnell says he “ought to encourage people to have these debates in a respectful way.” | McConnell says he “ought to encourage people to have these debates in a respectful way.” |
| He dodges on the question of whether he would support Trump, specifically, should he win the nomination. “I intend to support the nominee of our party and we’ll find out who that is in the coming months.” | He dodges on the question of whether he would support Trump, specifically, should he win the nomination. “I intend to support the nominee of our party and we’ll find out who that is in the coming months.” |
| She asks him about an open convention. What happens if no one acquires the magic 1,237 delegates to secure the nomination on the first ballot? | She asks him about an open convention. What happens if no one acquires the magic 1,237 delegates to secure the nomination on the first ballot? |
| “I am going to be a delegate from Kentucky, I’m bound on the first ballot,” McConnell says. “If there’s a second ballot I’ll let you know.” | “I am going to be a delegate from Kentucky, I’m bound on the first ballot,” McConnell says. “If there’s a second ballot I’ll let you know.” |
| What about Senate races, Bash asks – will Republican senators shy away from Trump for fear of losing their seats? | What about Senate races, Bash asks – will Republican senators shy away from Trump for fear of losing their seats? |
| “No matter who the presidential nominee is,” McConnnell says, “we’re going to run individual races.” | “No matter who the presidential nominee is,” McConnnell says, “we’re going to run individual races.” |
| He hints though that yes, senators are ready to steer clear of a nominated Trump: “Senate races are statewide races, you can craft your own message for your own people.” | He hints though that yes, senators are ready to steer clear of a nominated Trump: “Senate races are statewide races, you can craft your own message for your own people.” |
| 1.27pm GMT | 1.27pm GMT |
| 13:27 | 13:27 |
| Senator Mitch McConnell is next up on CNN, speaking about Barack Obama’s supreme court nominee, Merrick Garland – whom McConnel has vowed not to emrace | Senator Mitch McConnell is next up on CNN, speaking about Barack Obama’s supreme court nominee, Merrick Garland – whom McConnel has vowed not to emrace |
| “A lot of people who think this nominee ought to be decided by the next president” are out there talking, McConnell says, referring to himself. | “A lot of people who think this nominee ought to be decided by the next president” are out there talking, McConnell says, referring to himself. |
| He asks who should fill the vacancy on the court: “a lame duck president on the way out the door or a president we’re in the process of electing right now”. | He asks who should fill the vacancy on the court: “a lame duck president on the way out the door or a president we’re in the process of electing right now”. |
| “What’s the tradition?” McConnell asks. He says it’s been 80 years since the US has seen an analogous vacancy, and that “you have to go back to 1888 to find the last time a vacancy created in a presidential year was filled by a senate that was a different party by the president.” | “What’s the tradition?” McConnell asks. He says it’s been 80 years since the US has seen an analogous vacancy, and that “you have to go back to 1888 to find the last time a vacancy created in a presidential year was filled by a senate that was a different party by the president.” |
| The fact-checkers at Politifact have found these claims wanting: “‘Tradition’ [is] not consistent with judicial history,” they wrote. “Should Republican lawmakers refuse to begin the process of confirming an Obama nomination, it would be the first time in modern history.” | The fact-checkers at Politifact have found these claims wanting: “‘Tradition’ [is] not consistent with judicial history,” they wrote. “Should Republican lawmakers refuse to begin the process of confirming an Obama nomination, it would be the first time in modern history.” |
| McConnell casts a little conservative aspersion at Garland: “even though Barack Obama calls him a moderate he’s opposed by the NRA,” he says, adding that the NFIB also opposes Garland and the New York Times says he’d make the court more liberal. | McConnell casts a little conservative aspersion at Garland: “even though Barack Obama calls him a moderate he’s opposed by the NRA,” he says, adding that the NFIB also opposes Garland and the New York Times says he’d make the court more liberal. |
| “I can’t imagine that a Republican majority congress, in a lame-duck session after the American people have spoken,” would confirm a nominee, he concludes. He says he’s 100% unwilling to take a hearing on any nominee. | “I can’t imagine that a Republican majority congress, in a lame-duck session after the American people have spoken,” would confirm a nominee, he concludes. He says he’s 100% unwilling to take a hearing on any nominee. |
| “This is not about this particular judge, this is about who should make the appointment.” | “This is not about this particular judge, this is about who should make the appointment.” |
| The Obama administration has argued that the American people have already decided who should make the appointment, in that they elected Barack Obama to a second four-year-term. | The Obama administration has argued that the American people have already decided who should make the appointment, in that they elected Barack Obama to a second four-year-term. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.51pm GMT | at 1.51pm GMT |
| 1.14pm GMT | 1.14pm GMT |
| 13:14 | 13:14 |
| Kasich is onto the question of an open convention again. He gets tetchy, and takes credit for already preventing Trump’s clinched nomination because he won Ohio. | Kasich is onto the question of an open convention again. He gets tetchy, and takes credit for already preventing Trump’s clinched nomination because he won Ohio. |
| “I didn’t win Ohio because of any calculation,” he says. “You gotta get to the magic number to bet the nominee.” | “I didn’t win Ohio because of any calculation,” he says. “You gotta get to the magic number to bet the nominee.” |
| He says the Republican party has gone into an open convention 10 times, and “only three times has the person gone into the convention with the most delegates won.” | He says the Republican party has gone into an open convention 10 times, and “only three times has the person gone into the convention with the most delegates won.” |
| Bash asks him about Trump’s warning that there will be riots if he doesn’t get the nomination at the Cleveland convention. “I don’t think that kind of language is appropriate to talk about violence and rioting,” Kasich says. | Bash asks him about Trump’s warning that there will be riots if he doesn’t get the nomination at the Cleveland convention. “I don’t think that kind of language is appropriate to talk about violence and rioting,” Kasich says. |
| He adds that there have been “outrageous” threats against Donald Trump’s family, which he says “they” – it’s not clear whom he’s talking about – “have no right” to make. | He adds that there have been “outrageous” threats against Donald Trump’s family, which he says “they” – it’s not clear whom he’s talking about – “have no right” to make. |
| Finally, Bash asks him about confetti. Kasich had a lot of confetti at his Ohio victory party, the only victory party his campaign has held in more than 20 states and territories. Kasich says his “advance man” screwed up, but that he’s still trying to be a good leader for the country. | Finally, Bash asks him about confetti. Kasich had a lot of confetti at his Ohio victory party, the only victory party his campaign has held in more than 20 states and territories. Kasich says his “advance man” screwed up, but that he’s still trying to be a good leader for the country. |
| “I’m just a weak flawed man like everybody else but I’m going to do the best I can.” | “I’m just a weak flawed man like everybody else but I’m going to do the best I can.” |
| Updated | |
| at 2.25pm GMT | |
| 1.09pm GMT | 1.09pm GMT |
| 13:09 | 13:09 |
| Ohio Governor John Kasich is first on the docket this morning, with Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union. | Ohio Governor John Kasich is first on the docket this morning, with Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union. |
| She asks him how on earth he hopes to win the nomination when he’s so far behind in the delegate race – it’s mathematically impossible for him to win 1,237 delegates that would secure the nomination. | She asks him how on earth he hopes to win the nomination when he’s so far behind in the delegate race – it’s mathematically impossible for him to win 1,237 delegates that would secure the nomination. |
| Kasich: “I don’t think anybody’s going to have enough delegates, Dana, to tell you the truth.” | Kasich: “I don’t think anybody’s going to have enough delegates, Dana, to tell you the truth.” |
| He says the convention is “an extension” of the electoral process. He gets rhetorical about an open convention: “Who actually could be president of the United States and do a good job? When the delegates think about that I think we’ll be in a pretty good place.” | He says the convention is “an extension” of the electoral process. He gets rhetorical about an open convention: “Who actually could be president of the United States and do a good job? When the delegates think about that I think we’ll be in a pretty good place.” |
| Bash insists it’s about “gobbling up as many delegates as you can”, at this point, and asks whether Kasich will at all coordinate with Ted Cruz to prevent Donald Trump from clinching the nomination on the first ballot of the convention. | Bash insists it’s about “gobbling up as many delegates as you can”, at this point, and asks whether Kasich will at all coordinate with Ted Cruz to prevent Donald Trump from clinching the nomination on the first ballot of the convention. |
| Kasich says it’s just not going to happen. “We’re going to an open, multi-ballot convention, and the convention is an extension of what we’re going through right now.” | Kasich says it’s just not going to happen. “We’re going to an open, multi-ballot convention, and the convention is an extension of what we’re going through right now.” |
| He says he’s tired of all the hysteria about preventing a candidate Trump. | He says he’s tired of all the hysteria about preventing a candidate Trump. |
| “Everybody needs to take a little chill pill, to tell you the truth.” | “Everybody needs to take a little chill pill, to tell you the truth.” |
| Then he says he’ll listen to Cruz, if the senator wants to talk about coordination, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do anything about it. “We always talk if somebody wants to call and discuss things,” Kasich says. “It’s a mission for all of us.” | Then he says he’ll listen to Cruz, if the senator wants to talk about coordination, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do anything about it. “We always talk if somebody wants to call and discuss things,” Kasich says. “It’s a mission for all of us.” |
| 12.45pm GMT | 12.45pm GMT |
| 12:45 | 12:45 |
| Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2016 campaign, three days out from primaries in Arizona and Utah and the Democratic caucus in Idaho. | Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2016 campaign, three days out from primaries in Arizona and Utah and the Democratic caucus in Idaho. |
| Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is – again – facing up to violence at his campaign events. In Tucson, Arizona on Saturday a protester being escorted out of a venue was sucker-punched in the face by a Trump supporter, who then jumped over the fallen man and kicked him on the ground. | Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is – again – facing up to violence at his campaign events. In Tucson, Arizona on Saturday a protester being escorted out of a venue was sucker-punched in the face by a Trump supporter, who then jumped over the fallen man and kicked him on the ground. |
| At the same event, in a video captured by a reporter and posted online, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski appeared to yank a protester’s collar. The Trump campaign denied that the video shows Lewandowski grabbing the man, and spokesperson Hope Hicks said: “Mr Trump does not condone violence at his rallies.” | At the same event, in a video captured by a reporter and posted online, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski appeared to yank a protester’s collar. The Trump campaign denied that the video shows Lewandowski grabbing the man, and spokesperson Hope Hicks said: “Mr Trump does not condone violence at his rallies.” |
| A little over a week ago a reporter filed a criminal complaint against Lewandowski, alleging that he grabbed her with enough force to bruise her arms, a photo of which she published online. Lewandowski and the campaign have denied those charges as well. | A little over a week ago a reporter filed a criminal complaint against Lewandowski, alleging that he grabbed her with enough force to bruise her arms, a photo of which she published online. Lewandowski and the campaign have denied those charges as well. |
| Trump has roughly 250 more delegates than Senator Ted Cruz, who along with Ohio governor John Kasich is hoping to keep the businessman from winning the 1,237 delegates that would deliver the Republican nomination. Kasich has about 143 delegates. Cruz is looking to beat Trump in Utah, where his evangelical bona fides have a ready audience with the dominant Mormon population, and where favorite son Mitt Romney has excoriated the frontrunner for “racism, misogyny” and other wrongs. | Trump has roughly 250 more delegates than Senator Ted Cruz, who along with Ohio governor John Kasich is hoping to keep the businessman from winning the 1,237 delegates that would deliver the Republican nomination. Kasich has about 143 delegates. Cruz is looking to beat Trump in Utah, where his evangelical bona fides have a ready audience with the dominant Mormon population, and where favorite son Mitt Romney has excoriated the frontrunner for “racism, misogyny” and other wrongs. |
| Cruz is also trying to make a dent in Trump’s delegate wins in Arizona, where immigration is a central issue and anti-Trump protests resulted in blocked roads and several arrests on Saturday. The self-described billionaire (he has not released his tax returns to prove the point) has warned of riots, should the Republican party try to block his nomination at the convention this summer. | Cruz is also trying to make a dent in Trump’s delegate wins in Arizona, where immigration is a central issue and anti-Trump protests resulted in blocked roads and several arrests on Saturday. The self-described billionaire (he has not released his tax returns to prove the point) has warned of riots, should the Republican party try to block his nomination at the convention this summer. |
| On the Democratic side of the race, underdog Bernie Sanders has been evangelizing an antipodal message along the US-Mexican border, preaching inclusion and ridiculing Trump’s proposal to deport 11 million people who lack immigration papers. Sanders, too, is trying to steal delegates away from the frontrunner, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who has an estimated 467 “superdelegates” to Sanders’ 26. | On the Democratic side of the race, underdog Bernie Sanders has been evangelizing an antipodal message along the US-Mexican border, preaching inclusion and ridiculing Trump’s proposal to deport 11 million people who lack immigration papers. Sanders, too, is trying to steal delegates away from the frontrunner, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who has an estimated 467 “superdelegates” to Sanders’ 26. |
| Clinton has slowly started to turn toward the general election and her likely foe: the tangerine tycoon who led the campaign against five young black men over a rape they didn’t commit; who told a judge one of his properties is worth $48m less than he told the public; and who asked his aides to trawl the press, daily, for any mention of his name so that he could read it. | Clinton has slowly started to turn toward the general election and her likely foe: the tangerine tycoon who led the campaign against five young black men over a rape they didn’t commit; who told a judge one of his properties is worth $48m less than he told the public; and who asked his aides to trawl the press, daily, for any mention of his name so that he could read it. |
| Some other news sure to make it to the candidates this morning: | Some other news sure to make it to the candidates this morning: |
| Related: US-Cuba relations: timeline of a tangled history | Related: US-Cuba relations: timeline of a tangled history |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.49pm GMT | at 12.49pm GMT |