Trump says he loves Milwaukee after ‘horrible’ comment

Former President Trump praised the city of Milwaukee during a campaign stop in Wisconsin on Tuesday night, just days after it was reported that he thought the city was “horrible.”

Trump kicked off his rally in Racine, Wisconsin, declaring his love for the Badger State’s largest city. He also said he was the one who decided to host the Republican National Committee (RNC) national convention in Milwaukee, rejecting reports that he disparaged the city last week.

“I love Milwaukee. I was the one who chose Milwaukee, I have to tell you. I was the one who chose it,” said the former president on Tuesday. “These lying people who say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t like Milwaukee.’ I love Milwaukee.”

“I said you have to fix the crime. We all know that,” she added. “You have to make sure the election is honest, but I was the one who chose Milwaukee.”

The presumptive Republican Party nominee for president railed against a White House announcement about executive action that would allow some undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to remain in the country and work legally. Wisconsin is set to play a major role in the November election, as President Biden won the state in 2020 after Trump narrowly won the state in 2016.

Trump’s campaign and allies rushed to his defense last week after Punchbowl News reported that he called Milwaukee a “horrible city” during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans. Dylan Johnson, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in a statement last week that the reports were a “complete lie.”

“President Trump was explicitly referring to the problems in Milwaukee, specifically violent crime and voter fraud,” he said.

The city’s mayor responded to the reports, suggesting that the criticism could even cost him the election in the state.

But Trump has continued to deny the comments about the city, writing in a post on Truth Social last week that “Democrats are making up stories.” A Trump campaign spokesman also dismissed reports Tuesday that Trump planned to stay at his Chicago estate. instead of Milwaukee for the RNC convention.

President Biden’s campaign seized on the reported comments, releasing merchandise including Wisconsin-shaped T-shirts and stickers that read, “(Not) A Horrible City.” The campaign also had a homepage takeover announcement from The Shepherd Express and the Journal Sentinel regarding the reported comments.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story