The real-estate tycoon said he’d like to punch a protester in the face and fondly recalled the “old days” when “guys like that” who disrupted a political rally would “be carried out on a stretcher.”

While protesters and disruptions are now standard fare at Trump events, the candidate’s rhetoric on such interruptions had softened in recent months.

He also called rival Ted Cruz “sick,” criticizing him for what Trump feels were unfair and dishonest robo-calls and ads in South Carolina. “There’s something wrong with this guy,” Trump said.