Trump campaign and GOP lawmakers deny report about Trump calling Milwaukee a ‘horrible city’.
Republicans rally to defend former President Trump after a social media uproar ensued over a report alleging he criticized Milwaukee during a visit to Capitol Hill.
According to a Punchbowl News reporter, Trump purportedly referred to Milwaukee as a “horrible city” while conversing with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
However, the Trump campaign and Republican allies swiftly refuted the claim, asserting that the comment was taken out of context.
“Wrong,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung retorted. “Total bulls—. He never said it in the manner it has been inaccurately portrayed. He was discussing the issues of crime and voter fraud.”
Several Republican legislators who were present during the alleged statement, some of whom represent Wisconsin districts, corroborated that the remark was misconstrued.
“I was there. President Trump did not make this statement. There’s no better place than Wisconsin in July,” Representative Bryan Steil, R-Wis, affirmed.
Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., echoed Steil’s sentiment, emphasizing that Trump did not disparage Milwaukee.
“I was in the meeting. President Trump never criticized Milwaukee. Just another Democratic ploy,” Banks emphasized in a social media post.
In a similar vein, Representative Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., underscored, “@realDonaldTrump specifically alluded to the CRIME RATE in Milwaukee.”
The Trump campaign condemned the alleged misinformation in a press release, asserting, “Fake News Jake Sherman falsely claimed that President Trump called Milwaukee a ‘horrible city.’ It’s a fabricated story.”
“President Trump was explicitly pointing out issues in Milwaukee, particularly regarding violent crime and voter fraud,” the campaign reiterated.
On the Democratic front, President Biden expressed his affinity for Milwaukee in a social media post, while Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin extolled the city’s attributes.
“Milwaukee boasts the finest beer, brats, and motorcycles worldwide,” Baldwin praised. “It is home to vibrant communities and diligent workers, contributing to why Wisconsin is a premier state. Donald Trump lacks this perspective.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler accused Trump and his associates of denigrating Milwaukee while devising voter suppression tactics behind closed doors.
Sherman defended his reporting against scrutiny, asserting, “Trump undeniably made those remarks. It’s a recurring theme for those covering Trump-related stories over the past decade.”
