REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski
A Trump supporter (R) yells at a demonstrator (L) after Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump canceled his rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago March 11, 2016.
After news of the cancellation spread on cable news, and pictures of massive crowds of protesters spread online, the GOP primary frontrunner phoned in to MSNBC and Fox News to talk about it.
"Whatever happened to freedom of speech?" Trump said on MSNBC, lamenting that "you can't have a rally in a major city in this country anymore."
Trump has often slammed people who protest his rallies. As one protester was escorted out of a Trump event last month, the GOP frontrunner said, "I'd like to punch him in the face."
On Fox News, Trump was asked whether he would take responsibility for the unrest. "I don't think I play a role in division in this country," he said.
The day after a man was criminally charged for allegedly punching a protester at a Trump event this week, Trump declared "We need a little bit more" violence against protesters.
Trump's campaign has encountered a number of dissenters since launching his presidential bid last summer - many of whom have allegedly been motivated by Trump's own fiery rhetoric. Protesters have often been rushed out of those events, sometimes violently.
On MSNBC, Trump insisted that the protests against him, and Friday night's rally cancellation in Chicago will ultimately help his campaign. "This increases the vote for Trump," he said.