WASHINGTON — Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke made a Thursday night appearance at the "DeploraBall" — the pre-inauguration party organized by some of Donald Trump's more prominent alt-right supporters.

While addressing the boisterous crowd from the stage, Clarke, who is a registered Democrat and has run as a Democrat in each of his elections as Milwaukee County sheriff, said the only way he'd reach across the aisle to work with liberal politicians would be "to grab one of them by the throat."

"You may know me, you may not," Clarke told the crowd. "I am one of those bare-knuckle fighters. When I hear people say we need to reach across the aisle and work with the Democrats, you know what I say? The only reason I'll be reaching across the aisle is to grab one of them by the throat."





12 PHOTOS Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. See Gallery Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. departs after a meeting with U.S. President elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower New York, U.S., November 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson) Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump talks with Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 16, 2016. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke salutes at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. (REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. arrives to meet with U.S. President elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower New York, U.S., November 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson) Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump talks with Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. (L) and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 16, 2016. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke salutes at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. (REUTERS/Jim Young) Sheriff David Clarke speaks before republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during a rally at the KI Convention Center on October 17, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/Getty Images) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke flashes a peace sign at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. (REUTERS/Jim Young) Sheriff David Clark addresses members of the National Rifle Association during their NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at their annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, May 20, 2016. (REUTERS/John Sommers II) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke gestures after speaking at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke (L) exits elevators after meetings with President-elect Donald Trump November 28, 2016 at the Trump Tower in New York. (EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images) Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke speaks during the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee April 10, 2015. (REUTERS/Harrison McClary) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Following his speech, Clarke was asked by Business Insider why he so viciously slammed Democrats when he runs as one.

Democrats, he said, do "nothing for black people and I'm tired of that."

The bombastic sheriff also said during his speech that he asked President Donald Trump during the campaign to put him "in the trenches."

"I play smash mouth politics," Clarke said. "To this day the left does not know what to do with me."

The sheriff, who is a frequent guest of cable news hosts, particularly Fox News' Sean Hannity, said he visited 39 states on behalf of Trump during the campaign.

"If you know the left like I do, if you know liberals like I do, they never quit and defeat is not in their vocabulary," he said, making note of protesters who were throwing eggs at attendees of the "DeploraBall" as they entered the National Press Club in Washington.

Clarke was also asked by reporters after his speech if he was offered a job with Trump.

"I have a job and it is as sheriff of Milwaukee County," he replied.

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