US President Donald Trump reacts before speaking at a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center. Photo / AP
US President Donald Trump reacts before speaking at a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center. Photo / AP
Donald Trump's first rally since the violence in Charlottesville has led to protests on the streets, questions over his fitness to be president and Trump telling a blatant lie during a speech of more than an hour.
Trump supporters and protesters clashed in scuffles and shouting matches with police outsidethe Phoenix convention centre, while the US President told those gathered inside there was nothing to see, news.com.au reported.
He claimed there weren't many protesters outside: "And just so you know from the secret service, there aren't too many people outside protesting," Trump said.
Trump defended his initial Charlottesville remarks, saying the 'dishonest media' was to blame. Photo / AP
Putting the number of protesters in their thousands, CNN reported: "There are indeed many protesters outside, as CNN has been reporting for hours. Our correspondents said there are thousands of peaceful demonstrators in the area, standing outside in (41C) heat with signs."
'NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT'
In the wake of the rally, James Clapper, the former US director of national intelligence, openly questioned Trump's fitness to be President.
In an appearance on CNN - the news network which Trump attacked especially at the rally - Clapper described Trump's speech to the rally as "downright scary and disturbing" and that the president may be "looking for a way out".
"I question his fitness to be in this office and I also wonder if he is looking for a way out," Clapper, who has served both Republican and Democratic administrations, said.
He added that Mr Trump could be a threat to national security.
"I worry about access to the nuclear codes if he decided to do something, in a fit of pique, to tackle Kim Jong-un ... It's pretty damn scary," he said.
'ANGRY AND DIVISIVE'
As the rally ended the protests took a violent turn, with police firing teargas canisters, pepperballs and flash grenades into the crowd.
Police just fired teargas canisters on the north side of the Phoenix convention center pic.twitter.com/3L9Bzcj6bE
The explosive clashes came as many labelled Trump's speech "angry and divisive". Others went further, saying it was a "hate speech for white America".
The world called him out his own brand of fake news via social media, posting pictures of the mob, as the Trump show unfolded.
But Trump was just warming up, and appeared to be rewriting history as he re-read speeches and tweets he had made since Charlottesville - and selectively edited them.
While quoting himself, he made no mention of the words "both sides" in a tweet in the wake of the Charlottesville tragedy which saw him pilloried for not calling out white supremacists.
In a long and fiery speech to the rally, Trump again branded the media liars, and re-read some of his own speeches, and went through his response to Charlottesville tweet by tweet.
People protest outside the Phoenix Convention Centre. Photo / AP
He defended his initial Charlottesville remarks that were almost universally condemned, slamming the "damn dishonest" media. He read out his initial statement about the racist rally that ended in violence in the Virginia town earlier this month.
Trump was widely rebuked for failing to condemn the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups who organised the "Unite the Right" rally.
Trump re-read his remarks from the aftermath of Charlottesville but specifically did not repeat his controversial "many sides" line.
Trump opened the political rally in Phoenix with a call for unity, saying, "What happened in Charlottesville strikes at the core of America and tonight, this entire arena stands united in forceful condemnation of the thugs that perpetrated hatred and violence."
But he quickly trained his ire on the media, shouting that he "openly called for healing unity and love" in the immediate aftermath of Charlottesville and claiming the media had misrepresented him. He read from his three responses to the violence - getting more animated with each one.
Trump spoke after Vice President Mike Pence and others called repeatedly for unity.
In the comfort of his most fervent fans, Trump often resurrects his free- wheeling 2016 campaign style, pinging insults at perceived enemies such as the media and meandering from topic to topic without a clear theme. Although Trump's high-profile warm-up acts suggested the president's speech would be about unity, the president was more intent on settling scores.
Trump's appearance touched nerves in a city that has been at the centre of the debate over restricting immigration. The mayor, Greg Stanton, a Democrat, had previously urged the President to delay his trip, writing that the president "may be looking to light a match."
As the speech progressed, Trump reiterated that he would "one way or another" build his much-promised border wall between the US and Mexico.
He spoke briefly about the nuclear threat from North Korea, saying "I respect the fact that I believe Kim Jong is starting to respect us ... and maybe, probably not, but maybe, something positive can come of that".
