Donald Trump

Brennan Bedard of Barre, Vt., holds a Bernie Sanders campaign sign as she pickets with Johann Kulsic, left, and Rosie Contompasis, center, of Burlington, Vt. outside the Flynn Center of the Performing Arts prior to an address by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Burlington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016.

(Charles Krupa, Associated Press)

Today's Donald Trump news: Donald Trump's campaign made every effort Thursday night to prevent protesters and those undecided from entering his rally in Burlington, Vermont -- Bernie Sanders' home turf -- but to no avail. Protesters who were able to enter Trump's rally chanted slogans like "racist" or "dump Trump," but the real estate mogul and GOP frontrunner was unfazed, vowing to "take...down" Hillary Clinton. "I knew I was gonna have some in Vermont in all fairness," Trump said. "If we didn't have that it wouldn't be Vermont. Why do you think the other Republicans are not coming up here, folks. I am the only one." Justin Griffith, 20, a college student, said that he was turned away from the rally despite having a ticket. "I told them I was open-minded, and he tells me I have to leave," Griffth told ABC News. "They say it's a private event, and only Trump supporters are welcome:" ABC

"We have more than 20,000 people that showed up for 1,400 spots. I'm taking care of my people, not people who don't want to vote for me or are undecided," Trump said in a statement. "They are loyal to me and I am loyal to them." But the protesters interrupted Trump throughout his remarks, prompting him to joke that staff should "confiscate the coats" before sending the them into the frigid Vermont night. When Trump polled the crowd to see if they liked him, many in the audience booed -- he was on Sanders' turf after all. Trump said they'd like Sanders "if you want to pay a 90 percent tax" and then reminded everyone of a favorite story: the time Sanders' microphone was overtaken by Black Lives Matter protesters at one of his rallies in Seattle. "That won't happen with me," Trump promised, again: NBC

To welcome Donald Trump to Burlington, Vermont, a local deli offered a special sandwich inspired by the blustering Republican presidential candidate: bologna on white bread. Kountry Kart Deli owner Mike Williams told Boston.com they received zero orders Thursday for the $20.16 sandwich. "No spicy mustard here," the sign assures Trump. "We built a wall around it." Reaction from customers has been very positive, according to Emily Brownsword, a deli employee. "People have been coming by and stopping to take pictures, and talking about it inside," she said, adding that Kountry Kart doesn't usually serve bologna: boston.com

Sanders mocked the Republican presidential front-runner. After Trump said on Thursday that running against Sanders would be a "dream come true," the Democratic presidential candidate reminded Trump that in some hypothetical head-to-head matchups between the two candidates, Sanders comes out on top. "Finally @realDonaldTrump and I agree on something. He and I both want to run against the other. Guess who wins?" Sanders tweeted, linking to a Quinnipiac University poll showing Sanders beating Trump by over 10 percentage points in a general election contest. Sanders also attacked Trump's positions on issues like climate change and income inequality: Business Insider

In his Vermont speech, Trump pledged to "get rid" of gun-free zones in school and on military bases, as President Barack Obama more than 500 miles away made his case for tightening gun control. As Obama discussed his executive actions aimed at expanding background checks during a CNN-hosted town hall in Fairfax, Virginia, Trump berated the existence of "gun-free zones" and touted the benefits of law-abiding citizens carrying a gun. "You know what a gun-free zone is to a sicko? That's bait," Trump said, before vowing to sign an order ending the practice of gun-free zones on military bases. It's unclear whether Trump also hopes to end gun-free zones in schools in the same way, as he appeared to suggest Thursday night: CNN

Trump's campaign released a new attack video Thursday over Instagram that was aimed at Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. The video displayed Monica Lewinsky, Bill Cosby and former Rep. Anthony Weiner in an attempt to slam Clinton's advocacy for women's rights. The video opened with a photo of former President Bill Clinton, Hillary's husband, posing with Lewinsky, the former White House intern with whom he engaged in a much-publicized affair. Other photos appeared on the screen as Hillary Clinton spoke about women's rights: Business Insider

Bill Clinton brushed off Trump's latest effort to draw attention to his dealings with women, suggesting the Republican presidential front-runner would have to get closer to capturing the GOP nomination to merit a response. "If he wins the Republican nomination, we'll have plenty of time to talk," Clinton told reporters Thursday while stopping at a market in Cedar Rapids, where he tried various foods and spoke to customers. "I have no interest in getting involved in their politics or doing anything except trying to help Hillary." In his first campaign stop in Iowa on Mrs. Clinton's behalf, the 42nd president seemed determined to avoid a quarrel with Trump: The Wall Street Journal

CBS News rode with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Day Four of a six-day presidential campaign bus tour of Iowa, and asked about his birth in Canada and Trump's legal advice. "This issue is a non-issue," Cruz told CBS News. "The law is quite clear. The child of a U.S. citizen born abroad is a natural born citizen." Cruz has perceived this as an attack, although Trump says he's trying to help him. "The funny thing about politics, it's fairly unusual for your opponents who are running for the same position to be actually trying to help you," Cruz countered: CBS

The Rev. Al Sharpton thinks Trump has run a "great" media campaign in his bid for the White House -- and believes the Republican is like a white version of his pal Don King. Sharpton, in a wide-ranging interview with the Daily News editorial board Thursday, said he'd probably get in trouble for saying it, but admitted that the similarities between the boxing promoter and the real estate tycoon are striking. "My definition of Donald Trump is that if Don King had been born white, he'd be Donald Trump," Sharpton said: New York Daily News