Donald Trump has responded to last night's Chicago rally meltdown, condemning yesterday's 'thugs' for 'energizing America'.

The tweet comes the morning after the Republican candidate's rally got shut down following a series of bloody brawls and loud demonstrations.

His message: 'The organized group of people, many of them thugs, who shut down our First Amendment rights in Chicago, have totally energized America!'

Bloody brawl: Tensions reached breaking point last night as Trump's Chicago rally was forced to be shut down after a series of physical brawls and loud demonstrations

Torn in half: An opponent of Businessman and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds up a campaign torn in half as a Trump campaign rally is cancelled for public safety reasons

Temperatures rose as the clash between anti-Trump protesters and pro-Donald supporters led many to be escorted out by police

Earlier that day: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in St. Louis. Multiple law enforcement sources told DailyMail.com that there was a credible threat against Trump in Chicago

Spilling into the streets: Protesters and attendees at the trump rally fought in the streets after the rally was cancelled due to what Trump said was a safety concern

Last night saw unprecedented scenes inside the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion between an anti-Trump mob and Chicagoans who came to hear the Republican front-runner speak.

While outside, an impatient group of thousands more massed. Temperatures rose.

Multiple law enforcement sources told DailyMail.com that there was a credible threat against Trump from groups of protesters who planned to storm the stage.

Today, as the dust settles in Chicago, the candidate's camp have announced that an event that was to be held in Ohio is now on hold for the time being as well, according to Cincinnati.com.

The Secret Service security supporting the GOP presidential front runner's campaign could not complete its preparation work in time to hold the event at the Duke Energy Convention Center, a local spokesman for Trump's campaign told Cincinnati.com.

Donald Trump responded with this message the morning after his rally in Chicago got shut down on Twitter

Heated: Unprecedented scenes inside the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion between an anti-Trump mob and Chicagoans who came to hear the Republican front-runner speak

Multiple law enforcement sources told DailyMail.com that there was a credible threat against Trump from groups of protesters who planned to storm the stage

Blows: Police confirmed at least six arrests, one journalist was reportedly detained as well

On the street: Trump supporters and protesters clash outside the UIC Pavilion after the cancelled rally for the Republican presidential candidate in Chicago





RESPONSE TO TRUMP'S RALLY BEING SHUT DOWN Ted Cruz: Ted Cruz is responding to Donald Trump's cancellation of his Chicago rally, saying the billionaire has created 'an environment that encourages this sort of nasty discourse.' The Texas senator is calling it a 'sad day.' He says, 'Political discourse should occur in this country without the threat of violence, without anger and rage and hatred directed at each other.' Cruz says blame for the events in downtown Chicago rests with the protesters but 'in any campaign responsibility starts at the top.' Cruz says, 'When the candidate urges supporters to engage in physical violence, to punch people in the face, the predictable consequence of that is that is escalates. Today is unlikely to be the last such incidence.' Marco Rubio: Senator Marco Rubio said Friday night that this is a 'very disturbing moment in our political discourse” and pointed to “real significant anger and frustration at the direction of the country.' 'America is better than this,' Rubio said on a call to Fox News. 'We don't have to tear each other apart.' Rubio said Trump is not entirely to blame for tonight’s events but the Republican front-runner 'does bear responsibility for other things that have happened at his events,' he said before pointing to an example in which Trump said he wished he could punch a protester in the face. Rubio also blamed President Obama for the current divide in America. He said: 'President Obama has spent the last eight years dividing Americans along haves and have-nots, along ethnic lines, racial lines in order to win elections.' 'I think this has gone to the next level here and I think we're seeing the consequences in it,' Rubio added. Rubio called some of Trump's dissenters 'professional protesters' he claims were paid to be there and said that leftists have a mentality that,' if you don't like what someone's saying, you can just shut them down.' John Kasich: 'Tonight the seeds of division that Donald Trump has been sowing this whole campaign finally bore fruit, and it was ugly. Some let their opposition to his views slip beyond protest into violence but we can never let that happen,' reads a statement from the Ohio Governor. 'I urge people to resist that temptation and rise to a higher level. Now is the time for Americans to come together and stand firm for what we know is true: We are reat because we are a peacefule people who live by the rule of Law,' it continues. We are stronger together, we will reject those who try to divide us for personal gain and we will do it the right way- at the ballot box,' it concludes. Hillary Clinton: 'The divisive rhetoric we are seeing should be of grave concern to us all. We all have our differences, and we know many people across the country feel angry. We need to address that anger together. All of us, no matter what party we belong to or what views we hold, should say loudly and clearly that violence has no place in our politics, we should use our words and deeds to bring Americans together. Last year in Charleston, South Carolina an evil man walked into a church and murdered 9 people. The families of those victims came together and melted hearts in the statehouse and the confederate flag came down. That should be the model we for to overcome painful divisions in our country.' Police: A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department says the agency never recommended that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cancel his campaign rally in the city. CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told The Associated Press that the department never told the Trump campaign there was a security threat at the University of Illinois at Chicago venue. He said the department had sufficient manpower on the scene to handle any situation. Guglielmi says the university's police department also did not recommend that Trump call off the event. He says the decision was made 'independently' by the campaign. Trump cancelled the rally in Chicago due to what organizers said were safety concerns after protesters packed into the arena where it was to take place. Trump afterward told MSNBC in a telephone interview that he canceled the event because he didn't 'want to see people hurt or worse.' He said he thinks he 'did the right thing.' Guglielmi says Trump never arrived at the Chicago venue. Advertisement

News of the shutdown in Chicago came hours after a black activist in St.Louis, who gave his name as Anthony Cage, was filmed being escorted into a police van by two St. Louis officers with blood across his face and down the front of his sweater after clashing with Trump supporters.

After the campaign event was officially canceled, raucous protesters spilled out onto the street of Chicago and clashed with law enforcement officers.

Police confirmed at least six arrests. One journalist was reportedly detained as well.

Reports swirled that rioters were smashing cars parked in the venue's main garage. One outburst caught on a police scanner suggested a protester in the resulting scrum brandished a firearm.

Chicago police confirmed that two officers were injured, including one who suffered a deep gash when he was struck by a flying bottle.

'It is unfortunate that parties on both sides allowed their political views to become confrontational,' Police Interim Superintendent John Escalante said Friday night.

Trump appeared on MSNBC, lamenting how he was squelched, while live video of the chaos played.

'We have a country that's so divided that even you don't understand it,' he told anchor Chris Matthews. 'I've never seen anything like it, and this has been going on for years.'

'There's a lot of anger in the country, and it's very sad to see actually,' he said.

'We had literally over 25,000 people who wanted to come today. It's incredible,' Trump explained, saying that he had made the decision to cancel his appearance.

Busy night: Police break up skirmishes between demonstrators and supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that broke out after it was announced a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago would be postponed

Trump protesters and supporters clashed outside of the Chicago rally after it was cancelled due to the teeming number of protesters at the event

'Nobody was hurt and hopefully we can keep that going. That's why I did this today: we don't want anyone to get hurt, or worse.'

Asked what he would tell the protesters who seem to hate him so much, Trump said America needed an influx of jobs – especially for African-Americans whose unemployment rate is as high as 59 per cent.

'You have to bring back jobs! I'd be angry too,' he said. 'We have to bring jobs back. These kids are not getting jobs.'

Chris Matthews asked Trump why he mocked a protester earlier, telling him to go get a job. Trump said:

‘He was a very nasty guy, he was very very loud, very boisterous and he was swinging his fists. He just looked to me like somebody that frankly… Maybe he did have a job maybe he did not. But there’s nothing wrong with saying go get a job, but the fact is it’s not easy to get jobs.’

‘He was mad long before I said that. He was jumping up and down, he could have been dangerous.’

‘Some of these protesters are very dangerous people.’

The real estate tycoon predicted that fallout from Friday's clashes wouldn't hurt his White House bid.

'You can't even have a rally in this country anymore without violence,' Trump lamented. 'I think a lot of people think that it was wrong that we were stopped.'

'We can't have a rally in a major city in this country!' he complained. 'What happened to the right to free speech?'

Cheering: A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tries to pump up the crowd before a rally on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago on Friday

Supporters: Trump supporters hold signs after Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump cancelled his rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Matthews challenged Trump on the wisdom of staging a rally in a racial powderkeg city like Chicago.

'It shouldn't matter,' he fired back. 'Whoever lives in this city, it shouldn't make a difference. We shouldn't be restricted from having a rally here because of ethnic makeup.'

'I think we did the right thing,' he said. 'A lot of people are saying we did the right thing and it looks like it's going to be just fine.'

Following the cancellation of the rally, Ben Carson, who recently endorsed Trump, said: 'If your expression is shutting down somebody else's planned expression, you're interfering with their rights.'

Fox anchor Sean Hannity spoke with Donald Trump on Friday night who said of the protesters: ‘This is a very organized group and I think not a good group that really stifled first amendment rights. And you know, I think it’s interesting if we ever did that to them it would be a national disgrace, a national story and the likes of which you've never seen.'

‘But when they do it to us it's a very big deal,' he added.

Simmering racial tensions were at the heart of last night's fracas. Here, an anti-Trump supporter wears a Black Lives Matter T-Shirt

Inside the arena an hour earlier, 'fine' was the last word witnesses would have used to describe the scene as left-wing activists had their own seating section – or five.

They shouted 'Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!' and 'We did it!' as a public address announcement declared the night over.

Community organizers were out in force, chanting 'Latinos Unidos' slogans and jawing en masse at the Republican front-runner's supporters.

By the time the event was officially 'postponed,' activist chants of 'Si! Se puede!' and 'We don't give a f***' dueled with pro-Trump groups screaming 'USA! USA!' at the top of their lungs.

The groups kept screaming at each other, waving signs – both physical posters and gang signs – long after the announcement.

Political commentators noted last night that known protesters were admitted into the convention room despite the clear intention that they were intending to disrupt proceedings

A Facebook group that calls itself 'Trump Rally Protest - Chicago' gained interest of 19, 000 supporters in the lead up to last night's fracas.

The group said it would be protesting against Trump's 'complete and total shutdown of all Muslims entering the United States', because he 'has generalized the entire Mexican immigrant community as criminals and rapists' and because of his 'childlike temperament that would jeopardize our national security and potentially start unnecessary conflicts' among other things.

One Facebook group called on anti Trump supporters to attend the Chicago rally last night and peacefully protest

In another state: Police detained Anthony Cage after a fight between supporters and opponents of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, ahead of his speech outside the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis on Friday

Two fistfights broke out. Police raced to one corner of the arena, and then the next. Cheers rose and fell like the jangle of fans at a bullfight.

'Attention! The event is now over. Please exit the building!' the public address announcer blared repeatedly. No one cared.

Bernie Sanders campaign signs waved. One man hoisted a brightly colored poster that read: 'Trump Hates Puppies.'

A twentysomething woman got in his face.

'Build that wall!' she screamed. 'Build it now! Build it high! Build it ten feet higher!'

The Trump campaign issued a statement as chaos reached its apex.

'Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date,' it read.

Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace.'

Postponement: Left-wing activists had their own seating section – or five. They shouted 'Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!' as a public address announcer declared that 'for the safety of all the tens of thousands of people, tonight's rally will be postponed'

Opposing views: Protesters at Donald Trump's first Chicago campaign rally (pictured) were so numerous on Friday that they shut the event down

'Law enforcement acknowledged that the intensity of the protesters, and their numbers, came as a surprise.

'It's like 10 per cent of them are here to shut it down,' a Chicago police officer told DailyMail.com, requesting anonymity to speak freely.

Asked if it was more than law enforcement had prepared for, he said: 'Affirmative.'

That 10 per cent figure turned out to be an understatement.

More than an hour before Trump's appointed 6:00 p.m. starting time, scuffles broke out inside. And a riot-threatening crowd gathered outside, pressing against police lines that separated them from rally-goers who were still trying to get in.

More than an hour before Trump's appointed 6:00 p.m. starting time, scuffles broke out inside the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion. Pictured here are protesters standing outside

Verbal exchange: Trump supporter exchanges words with a demonstrator after Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump cancelled his rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Trump aides and Secret Service agents refused at 5:15 and 5:45 to speculate on whether or not the campaign event would be called off for the candidate’s safety.

A federal agent deflected the question as his eyes followed a young black man wearing a purple backpack.

'I don't know,' he said. 'I guess if they cleared Secret Service, then it's okay. I guess.'

One group of black audience members jeered a white man wearing a confederate-flag hat who told them they likely had no stake in the election. They couldn't vote, he yelled, according to two witnesses, because they were all felons.

Cancellation: An empty podium stands on the stage after protestors forced the cancellation of a Businessman and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaign rally out of concern for public safety

Inside the pavilion: Hundreds of protesters clashed with the frontrunner's supporters and police struggling to maintain order

Most of the venom, however, came from a section of anti-Trump forces numbering in the hundreds, clustered in the rear of the arena. They provided off-and-on fireworks and attracted police attention minute by minute.

'F*** the police!' a black woman screamed to no one in particular, repeatedly.

'¡Pendejos!' one Hispanic man yelled over and over again. '¡Pendejos!'

The word, a generic but crude insult, is Spanish for 'public hair.'

Both found hails of wadded-up food wrappers and paper cups thrown in their direction as chants of 'We Want Trump!' rang out in response.

The multi-ethnic lake of humanity, surrounded by a larger sea of Trump supporters, included blacks, whites, Latinos, Indians and women wearing headscarves.

They shouted 'Kick him out! Kick him out! Kick him out!' at a white man who had held a Trump rally sign over his head in the wrong place at the wrong time.

An African-American protester grabbed it, tore it in two, and held it aloft like a trophy. His friends flipped middle fingers to a scrum of journalists watching from behind barricades on the arena floor.

For a moment there was no screaming. No slogans. Just a moment's show of dominance before uniformed Chicago police gently led him out.

The man whose sign he took flashed a sheepish grin and retreated to another section of seating, sweat visible on his brow.

Joy for some: Protesters against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump celebrate after it was announced that a rally for Trump was canceled

The multi-ethnic lake of humanity, surrounded by a larger sea of Trump supporters, included blacks, whites, Latinos, Indians and women wearing headscarves

Some in the protest crowd shouted 'Undocumented! Unafraid!' over and over, competing with the Rolling Stones on Trump's pre-show playlist.

The adventures in protesting had begun when three young men wearing undershirts reading 'Muslims United Against Trump' were ushered out of the arena near the stage.

Witnesses said they were turned away at the door, left, and returned wearing hooded sweatshirts over their magic-markered messages.

Protesters are nothing new at Donald Trump rallies. Typically an hour-long speech stops a dozen times – sometimes more – so social justice warriors can vent their spleens.

Trump has turned mocking them into an art form. But Friday night's display was different.

An anti-Donald Trump protester is removed by security during a Trump rally at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Friday. Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump cancelled his appearance at a Chicago rally Friday amid extraordinary scenes of chaos

Tidying up the damage: Members of the cleaning crew sweep the floor at the UIC Pavilion after Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump cancelled his rally for safety reasons

The atmosphere was supercharged early on by news that a similar rally in St. Louis hours earlier generated 32 arrests including one for 3rd degree assault.

By 5:30, Trump's staff locked reporters inside the 'pen,' a barricaded-in area that journalists are not allowed to leave while The Donald is speaking.

Typically the lockdown happens ten minutes before 'go time' and exceptions are made for bathroom breaks. Not on Friday.

'I don't care,' one Trump aide told journalists. 'Stay in there. You don't come out.'

As soon as the event was canceled, however, there was no candidate to protect. The floodgates opened and journalists flooded out – some with cameras, others with notepads – to document the continuing melee.

'This is all your fault!' one young man boomed at no one in particular. 'You damned media people. You've ruined Donald Trump for all of us!'