Donald Trump wanted to punch protestor in the face

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, has said he would like to punch a protester in the face, and bemoaned the “old days”, when the man would have been taken out of the event on a stretcher.

The billionaire businessman made the comments as security staff escorted the protester from a Las Vegas arena that was filled with thousands of Trump supporters, on the eve of the Nevada caucuses.

The guards were being “very gentle”, Mr Trump said, allowing the man to walk out of the arena smiling.

“You know what I hate? There’s a guy totally disruptive, throwing punches. We’re not allowed to punch back any more,” he said.

Reporters did not see why the man was ejected, and it was unclear whether he had actually thrown any punches.

However, Mr Trump continued: “I love the old days. You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They’d be carried out in a stretcher, folks.”

The crowd thundered in agreement.

“I’d like to punch him in the face,” Mr Trump added.

Mr Trump continued to lash out at nomination rival Ted Cruz, telling the crowd: “This guy is sick. There’s something wrong with this guy.”

He took specific issue with an ad Mr Cruz’s campaign has been showing that accuses Mr Trump of being against turning over government land in Nevada to state control.

However, Mr Trump said it was “not a subject I know anything about”.

“Something to do with I want to take away your land? And I want to keep it in the federal government? I don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about,” he said.

Mr Cruz meanwhile said he liked the thought of Democrat hopeful Hillary Clinton behind bars.

The Texas senator suggested this when one of his supporters at a rally in Elko, Nevada, shouted that he should “put Hillary in jail” if he was elected in November. Mr Cruz paused, then responded: “With any luck, she’ll be there already.”

The capacity crowd cheered at the suggestion that the former US secretary of state, who has been dogged by questions about her private email use at the state department, should be locked up.

Mr Cruz later added: “I am told the Democrats are opening up a new polling place at Leavenworth”, a reference to the federal prison in Kansas.

Trump said he wanted to punch a protester "in the face" after a man was escorted out of Trump's rally Monday. https://t.co/piCulyEtkE

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 23, 2016