FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

I was trying to light myself on fire as an act of protest

The incident happened at around 9.30pm local time on Wednesday evening, when several items were set on fire on the street outside the billionaire’s hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a short distance from the White House in Washington. Speaking to NBC 4, the man said: "I was trying to light myself on fire as an act of protest.

TWITTER*MICHAEL SHOAG Emergency services rushed to Trump International Hotel to deal with the incident

TWITTER*MICHAEL SHOAG Traffic was diverted away from the area as authorities dealt with the incident

TWITTER*NIKKI LAURENZO Police vehicles outside the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue

"To protest the fact that we're electing somebody who's completely incapable of respecting the Constitution of the United States." The man - who claims to be from California - was rushed to the burns treatment area of a local hospital. His injuries are not thought to be serious. Hotel employees contacted police after noticing the man trying to set himself on fire, according to a journalist at the scene.

NBC4 Items alight outside Trump International Hotel

U.S. Presidential Inaugurations past Mon, January 16, 2017 From James Buchanan sworn into power in 1857 to Barack Obama in 2013, we look at historical inaugurations of the President of the United States since the 1950s. Play slideshow 1 of 14