The American Authoritarian On Full Display Today: Trump Says Protesters ‘Don’t Love Our Country’ To Cheering Throngs

“You know in New York we had some protesters, they’re all paid for,” he says as the crowd chants “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump.”

After a few weeks of moderately toning things down in a vague attempt to sound presidential, Donald Trump has reverted to his old authoritarian, say-what-you-want-deal-with-consequences-later ways this afternoon at campaign stops in Rhode Island, hours after learning that remaining GOP presidential candidates John Kasich and Ted Cruz would be awkwardly joining forces to stop his campaign, a move the GOP front-runner slammed as “pathetic.”

Speaking at an event in Warwick, Rhode Island, the candidate ascended the stage to denounce Cruz and Kasich’s public decision to team up and force a contested convention, but before he could launch into his attack, multiple groups of protesters interrupted the event.

“Get them out of here,” an irritated Trump demanded. “Don’t hurt them, don’t hurt them. We have to be very gentle.”

“You know in New York we had some protesters, they’re all paid for,” he told the crowd as they shouted back “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump.”

“I actually believe that they do not love our country, I’ll be honest with you,” the billionaire lamented. “I really believe that. They don’t love our country.”

As early as January, polling experts noted that Trump supporters all had one terrifying similarity. Regardless of median income, race, ethnicity, geographic location, age, or policy beliefs, they all shared a love for, and subsequent desire for authoritarianism.

In a University of Massachusetts, Amherst Poll sampling more than 1,800 registered voters across the country and political spectrum, the two greatest determinants found among those who identified as Trump supporters were a fear of terrorism and a love for authoritarianism.

It is no surprise that Trump’s call for political violence, xenophobia, enthusiasm among white supremacists, and misogyny have done little to deter his legions of supporters.

Monday’s rallies in Rhode Island were no different.

When a third group of protesters attempted to silence Trump again, a chant of “build that wall” was immediately triggered from the enthusiastic crowd.

“Don’t even think about it, it will be built,” the brash billionaire promised. “Don’t waste your breath. It will be built, believe me.”

“It will go up fast, and it will be big and it will be high and strong,” Trump terrifyingly continued, adding for good measure, “And it’s going to help stop the drugs from pouring into Rhode Island.”

Earlier this month, the Boston Globe published a satirical front page of what a Trump Presidency would mean for America. The conclusions were terrifying: