Donald Trump cancelled his campaign rally here citing security concerns after hundreds of people gathered at the arena to protest against his “politics of hatred” and scuffled with his supporters in the largest-ever demonstration against the Republican presidential frontrunner.

The real estate tycoon initially delayed his rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion on Thursday night but his campaign later announced that it was being postponed “for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena”.