Inside the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. this afternoon, the mainstream press junket packed into a cozy conference room, preparing for a long awaited detailed foreign policy speech from Donald Trump.

Outside, a small group of protestors braved the gray early spring chill to chant and jeer the billionaire businessman, as sleepy cameramen waited around hoping to capture Trump after his speech, which had the presidential hopeful reading from a teleprompter for the first time. (Which according to Twitter, didn’t go all that smoothly).

The protestors held colorful makeshift signs with slogans like: “Love trumps hate” and “stand against Islamophobia.”

Protestors face the gilded doors of the Mayflower Hotel as security looks on. [Image Courtesy of Alec Siegel for Law Street Media]

With a backpack slung over his shoulder and his hands cupping his mouth, Justin Scoville led the protestors in a rhythmic chant: “Donald Trump go away, racist, sexist not OK.”

“I don’t really care about his foreign policy,” said Scoville, 26, who was arrested twice last week as a participant of the Democracy Spring protests. “I care about his domestic policy. What he represents domestically I find much more disturbing.” Addressing Trump’s reason for visiting the posh Mayflower–a detailed foreign policy speech–he added: “I think [US foreign policy] will continue no matter who is in office.”

Over wailing sirens and the general cacophony of downtown D.C., the protestors at times banded together shoulder by shoulder in front of the entrance of the hotel, anticipating Trump’s arrival, or bunched up in a tight mass. 

Justin Scoville (center, hands clasped) converses with fellow protestors. [Image Courtesy of Alec Siegel Via Law Street Media]

Beyond the gray concrete exterior of the Mayflower, in front of a group of reporters and cameramen, Trump dove a bit deeper into his broad foreign policy plan. Press members have reported the following details of the speech on Twitter. Various statements by Trump include:

“I would absolutely bring back interrogation.”

“We are going to get rid of ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria] and we are going to do it very, very quickly. Believe me.”

“Replace chaos with peace.”

Amid the “Trump=Nazi” signs and young protestors–the Mayflower is blocks away from the George Washington University campus–the number of visible Trump supporters totaled one.

Laurie Saxson did not confront the chilly wind in a sleeveless turquoise dress simply to show support for a more detailed policy vision or a more “presidential” version of Trump.

Laurie Saxson shows her support for Trump, unlike the man in the camouflage jacket behind her. [Image Courtesy of Alec Siegel Via Law Street Media]

“I think he’s great the way he is,” said Saxson, who wore the ubiquitous red “Make America Great Again” hat. Saxson said she felt confident in Trump’s ability to follow through on the promise sewed onto her hat, and reiterated his positions in the same 140-character style of the candidate who hasn’t roused this much excitement in her “since Reagan”: “Strong economy, fight government corruption, and get rid of the illegal alien problem.”

As Saxson stood alone in the chilly air in a silent show of support, the protestors rushed to the curb as the wailing of a motorcade came cruising by, presumably escorting Trump. They stood on their tiptoes and shoved their signs toward the oncoming police cruisers and black SUVs, chanting, “two, four, six, eight, love always trumps hate!”

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Twitter went crazy during last night’s Democratic debate, as everyone had something to say about the candidates and their plans for the country. In fact, many Republican candidates felt compelled to respond to what their Democratic counterparts were saying on stage. Mike Huckabee and Lindsey Grahm even live-tweeted their comments as the debate unfolded. By the end of the night, most of the Republican candidates got their fair share of jabs in on the Democrats, particularly when it came to Hillary Clinton.

Here’s a quick roundup of the most interesting tweets from Republicans:

Jeb Bush calls out Hillary Clinton on the Keystone pipeline:

“I never took a position on Keystone until I took a position on Keystone.” – @HillaryClinton What? https://t.co/jWvvTyGnXU

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 14, 2015

Everyone’s favorite criticism of Hillary Clinton is that she’s a woman whose every move has a political motivation behind it. When she brought up her opposition to the Keystone pipeline, which she announced recently despite an ongoing debate between Democrats and Republicans, her critics seized the opportunity to call her out for playing politics.

Donald Trump

The most popular 2016 Twitter user also got his fair share of comments in last night. Donald Trump started off by pointing out Martin O’Malley’s difficult record in Maryland, particularly in the case of Baltimore.

O’Malley, as former Mayor of Baltimore, has very little chance. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015

He also made some more general comments about the participants, highlighting the polling gaps between the candidates–and we all know Trump loves to talk about poll results.

All are very scripted and rehearsed, two (at least) should not be on the stage. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015

This one is pretty clearly a shot at Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee, whose polling averages are below one percent nationally.

Bobby Jindal also chimed in after Anderson Cooper asked Bernie Sanders about his identity as a “Democratic Socialist.”

Democrats are debating whether capitalism is a good thing. Naturally. #DemDebate — Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) October 14, 2015

Mike Huckabee had several things to say throughout the debate–he had a couple bad and off-color jokes:

.@BernieSander‘s socialist math is as solid and sound as El Chapo’s prison security. #DemDebate — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 14, 2015

I trust @BernieSanders with my tax dollars like I trust a North Korean chef with my labrador! #DemDebate — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 14, 2015

But later it got even weirder:

Racism exists because we have a sin problem in America, not a skin problem. #DemDebate

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 14, 2015

And finally, Lindsey Grahm just gave up:

Can’t take it any longer. Wouldn’t make Gitmo detainees watch all of this. Good luck @TheDemocrats, you’re going to need it. #DemDebate — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 14, 2015

Kevin Rizzo

Kevin Rizzo is the Crime in America Editor at Law Street Media. An Ohio Native, the George Washington University graduate is a founding member of the company. Contact Kevin at krizzo@LawStreetMedia.com.

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