Trump's Paterno comment baffles crowd in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH — Donald Trump was showing off his knowledge of all things Pennsylvania during a Pittsburgh rally when he asked a baffling question — about Penn State’s famed football coach.
“How’s Joe Paterno?” Trump asked supporters Wednesday night. “Are we gonna bring that back?”
Paterno died in January 2012 just months after being dismissed following a child sex abuse scandal involving his assistant coach.
But the GOP presidential front-runner wasn’t asking about Paterno. He wanted to know about his statue, which was removed from outside the football stadium four years ago.
That’s what The Daily Mail’s U.S. political editor David Martosko says on his Twitter page. He says a Trump spokesman confirmed that Trump was referring to efforts to “bring back” the statue.
Trump’s rally Wednesday drew thousands to a downtown convention center — as well as hundreds of protesters who gathered outside the venue, chanting and waving signs.
Inside, Trump pumped up the hometown crowd.
“I know a lot about Pennsylvania and it’s great,” said Trump, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
As his supporters filed out at the end of the rally, they and the protesters engaged in heated verbal confrontations, with supporters chanting “USA!” and “Build that wall!” and protesters shouting profanities. Police in riot gear separated the sides.
A police spokesman said there were minor injuries, including to police officers, but she did not have details. Among those hurt was an 18-year-old Trump supporter who was observed being led to an emergency medical services van and receiving treatment after he was pepper-sprayed by a man his friends identified as a protester.
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