Trump calls Milwaukee a ‘terrible’ city ahead of Republican convention | Wilnesh News

During a meeting with House Republicans on Thursday, former President Donald Trump called Milwaukee, host of the 2024 Republican National Convention, a “terrible” city and said it was riddled with crime.

The comments were first reported by Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman and reported by nbc newsdrawing criticism from Democrats, while Trump’s allies rushed to defend his remarks.

The Trump campaign denied he called the city “horrible,” writing in a statement Press release Calling these reports “total lies”. However, the campaign still seems to suggest that Trump’s assessment of the city is dismissive.

“President Trump explicitly addressed issues in Milwaukee, specifically violent crime and voter fraud,” the campaign said in a statement.

Several Republican lawmakers also denied that he made the remarks at the meeting at the Capitol Hill Club. The event took place just weeks before the Republican convention in Milwaukee, where the party will formally nominate Trump as its presidential candidate.

Wisconsin Republican Rep. Bryan Steil replied Post on X According to reports, Trump called Milwaukee a “terrible” city.

“I was in the room. President Trump didn’t say that,” Steyer said. “There’s no better place than Wisconsin in July.”

Other congressional Republicans have sought to explain and contextualize Trump’s comments rather than deny them. Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden, wrote in X’s post The former president was specifically referring to the city’s crime rate, while others reportedly said Trump was talking about the city’s crime rate election integrity.

Wisconsin is a key battleground state that Trump narrowly lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

While Milwaukee, its largest city, has publicly welcomed the opportunity to host the Republican National Committee, the Democratic-led city has a rocky relationship with the Republican Party. CNBC reported on June 6 that Milwaukee-based Kohl’s department store will not sponsor any activities related to the Republican Convention.

Democrats were quick to capitalize on Trump’s comments.

In an apparent response, Biden responded to posted a photo Photo from the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 visit to the White House, captioned “I happen to love Milwaukee.”

Milwaukee Mayor Kavalier Johnson, a Democrat, said, “If Donald Trump wants to talk about things that he thinks are horrific, all of us who have been through his presidency, so, back to you, Man.”

“If Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so terrible, he shouldn’t be coming to our city,” Wisconsin Democratic Party coordinating campaign manager Garen Randolph said in a statement.

“Milwaukee voters are tired of Donald Trump and extreme Republicans who don’t care about them,” Randolph added. “We’ll see that at the RNC and then in November when Wisconsin gets Donald Trump Saw this again when leaving.”

It is unknown whether Trump will be in milwaukee Accept his nomination at the convention.

The former president was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, and his sentencing is scheduled for July 11, the day before the Republican National Convention.

Some Democrats cited Trump’s criminal conviction in response to his remarks Thursday.

“Milwaukee makes some of the best beer, beer and motorcycles in the world,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. said in the post “It’s home to some of our most vibrant communities, our hardest workers, and part of what makes Wisconsin the best state in America. Even if a jury told Donald Trump, he wouldn’t understand.”

Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore, who represents Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Milwaukee, also mentioned his belief in her response.

“Once he settles in with his parole officer, I’m sure he will find Milwaukee to be a wonderful, vibrant and welcoming city filled with diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community,” Moore wrote In X’s post.