
Donald Trump's Secret Service detail and private bodyguards had the last laugh on Friday as hundreds of protesters swarmed at the front of a San Francisco airport hotel trying to block him from coming in for a speech at the state Republican Party's annual convention.

Instead of partnering with uniformed police in riot shields trying to push the hordes back, they did a law-enforcement head fake – leading the billionaire across a grass highway median and in a back-door loading dock at the Hyatt Regency hotel in the suburb of Burlingame.

The move left Trump feeling 'like I was crossing the border, actually,' he said.

Led by his regular protective detail and Trump's private bodyguard Keith Schiller, the Republican front-runner's arrival became a full-blown media spectacle, with cable news channels interrupting their broadcasts for helicopter live-shots.

Their audiences were treated to the sight of the 69-year-old Trump hopping nearly three feet down from a cement barrier to the grass below, skirting between two chain-link fences, and then climbing uphill in his expensive suit and shoes while local police and California Highway Patrol kept liberal activists at bay on the other side of the hotel.

Donald Trump's motorcade traveled the three miles from San Francisco International Airport to Burlingame, California, but never approached the front door of the Hyatt Regency hotel where he was to address the California Republican party's annual convention. Trump is pictured directly in front of the silver van at center

Outsmarted: Instead, Secret Service and private security guards led Trump (at center, flanked on all four sides) down a concrete ramp to a steep jump down to grass, and then uphill toward the hotel's rear loading dock entrance

Pulling a fast one: Without protesters anywhere, Trump entered the building through an alternate door that secret Service had scoped out before he ever arrived

With protesters gathering in front of the Hyatt (top right), the Secret Service's sleight-of-hand directed Trump and his closest aides across a grass median and in through a back door

'That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made': Trump joked with the Republican crowd when he eventually took the stage after being smuggled into the venue, saying they got to walk through lobby while he was being pushed in the back

'I felt like I was crossing the border': Trump called back to his showpiece pledge about building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border

'That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made,' Trump joked when he eventually took the stage. 'My wife calls – she says, "There are helicopters following you"'

'And then we went under a fence, and through a fence. Oh boy, I felt like I was crossing the border actually, you know? I was crossing the border but I got here.'

'You all walk through the lobby. I'm going under fences!' he told the audience of party loyalists.

As he finished his remarks, a mashup of his stump-speech themes, Trump looked offstage to his security detail that was getting ready to take him out the same way he came in.

'I know they're waiting,' Trump said.' They're gonna take me under a fence, through a field.'

'Oh, you have no idea the route they have planned for me to get out of here!'

Joel Anderson, the California state senator who introduced Trump inside delivered an update near the end of a half-hour delay before Trump took the stage during a GOP convention luncheon.

'I know a lot of you are sports fans, so I thought I'd give you a little bit of a quick score,' Anderson said. 'Burlingame Police, CHP, 1. Protesters, 0.'

The result was worth it for Trump, a complete sidestep of an angry mob that broke barricades to get blitz the hotel's front doors, challenging rows of police and shouting slogans.

One group of them formed a human chain, trying to block the entrance entirely to prevent Trump from reaching his audience.

At least one person was detained outside as shouting matches between anti-Trump protesters and pro-Trump supporters occasionally clashed. A few protesters even stole an American flag and burned it, drawing angry responses from both sides. A Trump effigy was also burned.

Angry protesters push over a barricade as they demonstrate against Trump outside the Hyatt in an attempt to get near the front door, completely unaware that he was nowhere to be seen

Detained: At least one protester was arrested during the demonstration outside the Hyatt, although it was unclear what particular issue this person was vocal about

Ready for action: A swarm of hundreds of anti-Trump protesters had gathered Friday afternoon but never got to see Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner

Didn't see the funny side: While Trump was being smuggled in the back, police in riot gear were forced to hold off angry demonstrators outside the Hyatt hotel

Crossing the line: Many protesters were chanting slogans in Spanish as the police looked on, although one particularly noticeable English chant was 'F*** Donald Trump!'

Friend or foe? Rabia Keeble hugs a Donald Trump pinata during the protest outside the California Republican Convention

Shut down Trump, Open borders: What was left of the pinata of The Donald could be seen in the crowd (left), while masked men chose to hide their identity (right) while making their feelings known

Rowdy: While some protesters were content with waving Mexican flags, reports said that at one point people began throwing eggs in the direction of police

Viva Mexico: A protester waves the Mexican flag outside the Hyatt, while another can be seen brandishing a poster that reads Trump=Nazi

Stop racism: This protester had a Mexican flag tied around his head as he made his message clear; but thanks to the Secret Service, Trump saw none of this

Stand-off: Baton-wielding and helmet-wearing police officers form a line in front of protesters outside the hotel

Many were in Spanish. One in English, repeated over and over, was: 'F*** Donald Trump!'

That message also appeared on at least one sign, waved along with some professionally printed placards from the Service Employees International Union and one home-made poster scrawled with the slogan: 'Capitalism only works on paper.'

'Capitalism kills. #DumpTrump,' another read.

CNN reported that protesters at one point started throwing eggs in the direction of police

One waved a Giant Mexican flag. Others held Trump piñatas aloft.

At one point a banner flew over a pedestrian overpass leading from the hotel to a parking garage, reading 'Make America Aztlan Again.'

That line, a play on Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan, is a call from some Mexican immigrants' groups to return massive parts of the United States to Mexican rule, including Texas, Arizona, new Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California.

Hate and racism not welcome: Mexican demonstrators were not the only ones to take part in the demonstration, as it appeared black protesters and anti-capitalism groups came to the party

This particular message outside the Hyatt was delivered in both Spanish and English so there was no chance of it being misinterpreted; it even went as far as to label Trump as an advocate of white supremacy

Dump Trump: One typical California protest sign attacked Trump for being a capitalist in a scene reminiscent of Thursday night

Say what you really feel: Protestors earlier blocked traffic outside the convention, anticipating that Trump would arrive at the front

Eye-catching: Demonstrator Rebecca Marston holds up a bullhorn as she chose a topless protest calling on a ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She was joined by another scantily clad woman calling on 'Drumpf' to go, echoing John Oliver's joke

A fan or a diversion? A Donald supporter wearing his trademark 'Make America Great Again' cap is surrounded by anti-Trump protesters

At least some people like you, Donald: Trump supporters in natty cowgirl attire take photos during the convention in Burlingame

Trump is known in California for upsetting advocates of citizenship for illegal immigrants, which are largely of Hispanic descent.

A law enforcement source told DailyMail.com that the rear-guard action to dodge protesters was planned before Trump's Boeing 757 jumbo jet landed at San Francisco International Airport, just three miles away.

Thursday night saw more violent protests further south near Los Angeles, as at least 20 arrests were made in San Mateo outside a Trump speech that attracted more than 31,000 people – and thousands more who lined up futilely trying to get into an outdoor amphitheater.