Protesters who interrupted the president during his rally with supporters in Duluth, Minnesota, got the Donald Trump treatment. "Oh we have a single protester, there we go. Goodbye, darling," Trump said as his supporters in their red "Make America Great Again" hats cheered. "So we have a single protester, he's going home to his mom. Say hello to mommy. And tomorrow, the fake news will say tomorrow, massive protests at the Trump rally. One person. Massive protests." A couple of minutes later, another protester appeared in the crowd holding up a photo of Trump with his former friend Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced billionaire financier and convicted pedophile. On the picture of the two men was the caption: "Who is Jeffrey Epstein?" "Get 'em outta here. Go home to your mom, darling. Go home," Trump said as security made their way to the man, who was near to Trump at the front of the crowd. Trump supporters booed as the man was escorted through the rally, still holding up the photo of Trump and Epstein, and chanted "USA!" "Was that a man or a woman because he needs a haircut more than I do?" Trump said as his fans cheered. "Couldn't tell, couldn't tell. I couldn't tell. Needs a haircut." Though his administration is under permanent siege because of the myriad scandals and controversies in which it is entangled, Trump is facing intense criticism over the issue of undocumented children separated from their families by border officials. In April, under Trump's "zero tolerance" practice for illegal immigration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered that all those found crossing the southern border unlawfully be taken immediately for prosecution. This meant any children accompanying undocumented adults crossing the border—their family members or guardians—were separated from them. The adults are taken for prosecution and the children—including toddlers and babies—are sent alone to detention centers. Reports, images and audio from those detention centers show traumatized children crying out for their parents, huddled in cages and sleeping under space blankets. Around 2,000 children have been split from their families since the practice started being enforced. Officials defended separating children, saying they are upholding the law. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would not apologize for doing her job. Read more: Children Crying at U.S. Border and Sitting in Cages: Trump's Separation Policy in Pictures But under serious pressure from congressional Republicans as well as his usual critics and opponents, Trump signed an executive order preventing the separation of undocumented children from the adults with whom they crossed the border. "We are keeping families together; this will solve that problem," Trump said at the Oval Office signing on Wednesday. At the Minnesota rally he added: "Today I signed an executive order; we're gonna keep families together. But the border is gonna be just as tough as it's been. "Democrats don't care about the impact of uncontrolled migration on your communities, your schools, your hospitals, your jobs, or your safety. Democrats put illegal immigrants before they put American citizens. What the hell is going on?" This story was updated to include more comments made by Trump at the rally.<doc-sep>President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Duluth, Minnesota, Wednesday evening, marking his first visit to the state since a campaign rally shortly before the 2016 election. The rally, scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., has been moved to the AMSOIL Arena to accommodate a larger crowd. Before the rally, Trump is expected to meet with mining industry representatives and elected leaders for a roundtable discussion. U.S. Representative Jason Lewis and U.S. Representative Tom Emmer will be attending. Advertisement In light of the growing controversy over the U.S. Department of Justice’s new “zero tolerance” immigration policy, some Minnesotans are planning protests outside the rally in Duluth.<doc-sep>President Trump made his first visit to Minnesota since winning The Oval Office when he held a roundtable and rally in Duluth on Wednesday night. DULUTH, Minn. - President Trump made his first visit to Minnesota since winning The Oval Office when he held a roundtable and rally in Duluth on Wednesday night. The White House said President Trump was originally expected to arrive in Duluth around 4:35 p.m. but was delayed. Air Force One landed at the Duluth Air National Guard Base just before 5 p.m. From there, President Trump held a roundtable event with about a dozen elected officials as well as representatives from the mining and steel industry. The discussion was billed as "promoting and protecting American workers." Topics ranged from immigration and trade to health care and national security. Trump told those at Duluth Cargo Connect that "billions" are "pouring into the Treasury" as a result of his trade decisions. @potus: “Make America great again. And that’s what we’re doing. For our next campaign we have a new slogan... KEEP AMERICA GREAT.” #TrumpDuluth pic.twitter.com/akwmBqoH3D — Nikki Muehlhausen (@NikkiKARE11) June 20, 2018 The rally was originally set to be held at DECC Arena but was moved to AMSOIL Arena due to high demand. The Duluth Fire Marshal told a pool reporter the arena holds about 9,000 people and it appeared to be full, with hundreds of people left outside waiting to get in. So sorry, people wanting to get into the already packed arena - I LOVE YOU ALL! pic.twitter.com/PFvXrsvgkA — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2018 Pete Stauber, the Republican running in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, took a turn at the stage early on. “Mr. President, these people support you,” Stauber said to a roar of applause. “We need more Republicans,” Trump said. “We’ve got to get out there in the midterms.” Trump also addressed the executive order he signed earlier Wednesday that will stop the separation of families caught crossing the border illegally. He says the U.S. has the "weakest" and "most pathetic immigration laws anywhere in the world." But he says things have to be done with "compassion." Trump narrowly lost Minnesota in 2016 and jokes that he would have won if he had made just one more speech. He says he has no doubt he'll win in 2020. Trump said his administration is “taking first steps” to open the Superior National Forest to mineral exploration. The president also raised the North Korea summit, calling it an “incredible success.” He predicted that “Chairman Kim will turn that country into a great, successful country.” Trump said “right now, you are so safe” because of the summit. Protests were also held in response to the President's "Make America Great Again" rally. A handful of protestors were also booed as they were led out of the arena throughout the course of the rally. Trump protesters are beginning to gather outside the Duluth courthouse ahead of the rally. pic.twitter.com/cw8g9rKHG2 — KARE 11 (@kare11) June 20, 2018 A "Blue Wave 2018 Rise and Resist" protest is gathered on the Duluth lakewalk less than a mile east of the #TrumpDuluth rally pic.twitter.com/yWIuJKI1RF — KARE 11 (@kare11) June 21, 2018<doc-sep>
A number of counter protest events will be held in the city. President Donald Trump will arrive in Duluth tomorrow for a rally in front of thousands of supporters, while counter-protesters demonstrate elsewhere on city streets. The president is holding a "Make America Great Again" rally at 8,500-capacity Amsoil Arena, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. and the event getting underway at 6:30 p.m. The Trump campaign's decision to appear in Duluth comes ahead of what is expected to be another incredibly tight 8th Congressional District election this November, particularly with DFL Rep. Rick Nolan retiring. Before the rally, the White House has announced that Trump will attend a round-table event with four local elected officials, six representatives from the mining and steel industry and Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer and Jason Lewis. The discussion is billed as "promoting and protecting American workers." Notable by his absence is Rep. Erik Paulsen, who had in recent days stated opposition to some of the president's policies, namely the separation of immigrant children from their families near the Mexican border. Counter protests planned On the day of the rally, there will be a number of counter-protests going on in Duluth in opposition to the president's administration. A list of the events, which started on Monday, continued on Tuesday and will culminate on Wednesday, can be found on the Forward Coalition Facebook page. There will be a march past the president's motorcade before a rally at the Duluth Civic Center 4:30-6:30 p.m. At the same time, a Soulstice Peace Rally, billed as a non-partisan event, will be held at Leif Erickson Park. Also planned is a Blue Wave Rise and Resist Rally from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lake Place Park.