Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo attempted to curb a crowd's jeers at a Donald Trump rally on Wednesday, urging them to refrain from booing a fallen police officer. The incident occurred in Las Vegas as Lombardo began to acknowledge the recent death of Officer Austin Abdelnabi.
"No, no, we’re not booing, we’re not booing him," Lombardo stated as boos were heard. "He’s the officer that passed away here recently, so..."
Abdelnabi, a 30-year-old Las Vegas police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was fatally shot on Tuesday after being ambushed by a suspect, according to Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Lombardo subsequently asked the crowd for their "indulgence" in observing a moment of silence for the officer.
Some observers and media outlets speculated that the booing might have been a reaction to hearing a name perceived as similar to Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic politician whose ethnicity and Muslim faith had become targets of criticism. Critics on social media drew parallels, with some suggesting the event reflected a broader trend of racial animus within segments of the Republican party. One commentator described the moment as defining of the modern Republican Party.