Violent clashes that have erupted at recent Donald Trump's campaign rallies point to "an explosive summer" as the brash billionaire steamrolls ahead in his bid for the GOP presidential nomination, Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy says.
In an interview with
"CNN Tonight" host Don Lemon on Friday, Ruddy said flares of violence between anti-Trump protesters and the front-runner's supporters in
Chicago and
St. Louis portend even worse to come.
"This is all taking place in March," Ruddy told Lemon. "This is only the start. I think it's going to be an explosive summer. It's going to be off the charts."
"I think the various groups that are already out there that have been agitating, they're going to be ramping up and I think you’re going to see a counter side," Ruddy added. "Trump has, whether it's large numbers or not, very devoted followers."
Trump predicted that Cleveland, where the GOP convention will take place in July, "is going to be like a World Wide Wrestling event."
Ruddy noted the escalation comes as the GOP itself struggles to maintain its unity – and control over the front-runner.
"One of the problems is there is really no Republican Party left," Ruddy said, calling Republican National Committee head Reince Priebus "a disaster."
"You now have one candidate dictating the terms of debates, when he's going to show up, what he's going to do," Ruddy charged. "It's a really bad situation."
Ruddy was referring to Trump deciding
not to appear at a Fox News-sponsored debate, and its cancellation, ahead of the primary contests in Arizona and Utah Tuesday.
"Isn't this really the end of Fox News as a powerhouse?" the Newsmax CEO asked.
"The game is over," he said. "They just had a candidate say I'm not showing up at your debate. Fox is being regularly pilloried by him and there are studies that show Republican viewers are not so happy with Fox."
"They were effectively a super PAC for [Florida Sen.] Marco Rubio" to little effect, he added, noting the former candidate "came in almost 20 points behind in his home state and Fox said he was going to win."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.