In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump expressed his love for Milwaukee during a speech in Racine, just 30 miles south of the city. This declaration comes less than a week after he reportedly referred to Milwaukee as “horrible” during a private meeting with House Republicans.
During his speech, Trump emphasized that it was his decision to have Milwaukee host the Republican National Convention this summer, despite previous comments suggesting otherwise. He dismissed claims that he had negative feelings towards the city, stating, “I love Milwaukee.”
Trump also took aim at Democrats, accusing them of being dishonest and labeling President Joe Biden as a “horrible candidate” who is clueless and unaware of his surroundings. He recounted a recent meeting with congressmen where he expressed his admiration for Milwaukee, suggesting that his critics were spreading false information about his views on the city.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s remarks about Milwaukee began at a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, where he reportedly criticized the city in the context of crime rates and election integrity. Multiple members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation confirmed that Trump had used the word “horrible” in reference to Milwaukee, specifically discussing crime issues rather than the city as a whole. This incident comes against the backdrop of Trump and his allies’ unfounded claims of election fraud in Milwaukee during the 2020 election.
