Trump supporters, opponents spar verbally at GVSU campaign stop

Supporters and opponents of Donald Trump clashed verbally throughout a tense campaign stop by Donald Trump Jr. at Grand Valley State University on November 2.

The campaign event, organized by the university's College Republicans student organization, drew a crowd of several hundred people to the Grand River Room. Trump supporters and opponents chanted over each other dozens of times throughout the event. 

Trump Jr. was introduced by several area politicians, including former congressman Pete Hoekstra, Representative Bill Huizenga and others. 

Trump Jr. stuck largely to familiar Trump campaign messages and told the crowd that his father has an interest in improving quality of life for all Americans regardless of ethnicity and gender. Many of his statements were met with cheers from supporters and loud rebukes from opponents. 

"We need a diversity of thought. We need to be able to have this dialogue," Trump Jr. said. "People around this country know that it's time to drain the swamp. They know politicians have failed us and made promises they can't deliver on."

Trump Jr. called Michigan "a state that is in play" and said he is confident his father can win the state's 16 electoral college votes on November 8.

"On Tuesday we have an opportunity to put someone in Washington who isn't part of the political system," Trump Jr. said. "Michigan is a state that is ready for change."

Protestors held signs and chanted, drawing jeers from Trump supporters in the crowd. Despite the tense atmosphere, protestors and supporters remained peaceful throughout the event. 

Trump Jr. addressed the students in the crowd specifically, saying that today's students will be directly impacted by what he called a broken economy and government system.

"You guys are part of this. You will inherit this mess," Trump Jr. said. "We're the first generation who is on the verge of handing our kids a more bleak future."