http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-indicted-2023-s453.pngLocal Leaders React After Trump Calls City “Horrible”

MILWAUKEE- In case you missed it, Donald Trump called Wisconsin’s most diverse, most economically powerful city, a “horrible city” in a closed-door meeting with congressional Republicans yesterday.

As Donald Trump’s MAGA allies scramble to do damage control on his comments, Wisconsinites across the state heard his message loud and clear: Donald Trump hates Milwaukee.

See the coverage below:

On the Airwaves:

Spectrum News (Milwaukee, WI):

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson: “Donald Trump has been wrong about so many things. I mean it just goes to a long line of lies that Donald Trump has been spewing ever since he got involved in public life and including the years before.”

WMTV (NBC – Madison, WI): “The Milwaukee mayor is now defending the city and calling the comments ‘unhinged’ and ‘perplexing’ considering Milwaukee is hosting the RNC next month.”

WISN (ABC – Milwaukee, WI): “Former President Donald Trump, responding after he reportedly called Milwaukee a ‘horrible city.’ Punchbowl News says it happened during a closed-door meeting with house Republicans. They're reporting the former president said, quote, ‘Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city.’”

WTMJ (NBC – Milwaukee, WI): “Several Republicans who were in the room have come to his defense, but with differing stories about the context it was said in. The Trump campaign initially called the reporting a total lie before admitting it was in reference to crime and voter fraud.”

WZAW (Fox – Wausau, WI): “Next month, former president Donald Trump will accept the Republican nomination for president at the party's convention in Milwaukee. Trump reportedly referred to Milwaukee as a, quote, ‘horrible city’ in a private meeting with Republican lawmakers Thursday.”

WQOW (ABC – La Crosse, WI): “President Biden weighing in as well, with [a] post on X saying, quote, ‘I happen to love Milwaukee.’”

WKOW (ABC – Milwaukee, WI): “A spokesperson for the Biden-Harris campaign says, quote,’ if Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so horrible, then he shouldn't come to our city.’”

WEAU (NBC – La Crosse, WI): “Representative Scott Fitzgerald said a congresswoman asked about election integrity, and he says the president brought up worries with 19 places. … Although recounts, audits, and legal challenges couldn't change that Joe Biden won Wisconsin.”

WGBA (NBC – Green Bay, WI): Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson: “I find it kind of strange that he would insult the largest city in Wisconsin, because he's running for president, he obviously wants to win Wisconsin, win the election. So to insult the state that's hosting your convention, I think it's kind of bizarre actually, kind of unhinged in a way. Especially considering the fact that in Milwaukee, there are about 50,000 Republicans who live right here in the city, so you're calling their home ‘horrible’? I mean, I don't quite understand that.”

WBAY (ABC – Green Bay, WI): “Trump is coming under fire for reported comments that he made while talking with Republican lawmakers Thursday, calling Milwaukee quote, a ‘horrible city.’”

WLUK (Fox – Green Bay, WI): Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley: “I can’t wait to really prove him wrong and let him know what we have to offer”

WSAW (CBS – Wausau, WI): Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson: “If Donald Trump wants to talk about things that he thinks are horrible, well, all of us lived through his presidency. So, right back at you, buddy.”

Online

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Donald Trump calls Milwaukee 'a horrible city' weeks before RNC comes to town

[Molly Beck and Lawrence Andrea, 6/13/24]

Donald Trump on Thursday called Milwaukee — where in a little over a month he will be declared the Republican nominee for president — a "horrible city."

[...]

Garren Randolph, manager of [the Democratic Coordinated campaign’s] reelection effort in Wisconsin, said the city "deserves better than a convicted felon, racist, and wannabe dictator who hates us and our values."

“If Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so horrible, then he shouldn’t come to our city," Randolph said.

[...]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Right back at you, buddy': Milwaukee mayor responds to Trump calling his city 'horrible'

[Jolan Krause, 6/13/24]

Mayor Cavalier Johnson clapped back Thursday to former President Donald Trump labeling Milwaukee a "horrible city."

"Donald Trump was talking about things that he thinks are horrible. All of us lived through his presidency. So, right back at you, buddy," Johnson said. "Donald Trump once again is wrong about something. That shouldn't be new news, especially for somebody who has a proven track record of lying about a number of things."

[...]

WISN: Report: Trump calls Milwaukee a 'horrible city' ahead of RNC

[Matt Smith, 6/13/24]

According to a report from Punchbowl News, former President Donald Trump said, "Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city" during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans Thursday morning.

During Thursday morning's meeting on Capitol Hill, where no cameras were present, Trump reportedly made the controversial comment while discussing campaign strategies and other GOP priorities ahead of the 2024 election.

[...]

Associated Press: Trump refers to Milwaukee as 'horrible' weeks before the city is set to host the 2024 Republican National Convention

[Scott Bauer, 6/13/24]

Former President Donald Trump used the word “horrible” in talking about Milwaukee — the city where he will accept the Republican nomination next month — during a closed-door meeting Thursday with GOP congressmen, according to several people in the room who spoke afterward.

[...]

WTAQ: Reaction To Donald Trump Reportedly Calling Milwaukee a ‘Horrible City’

[Staff, 6/13/24]

[...]

Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign Manager Garren Randolph released this statement on behalf of President Joe Biden’s campaign:

“If Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so horrible, then he shouldn’t come to our city. Milwaukee – our state’s largest and most diverse city and home to more than 577,000 people, the Bucks and Brewers, and the country’s best beer – deserves better than a convicted felon, racist, and wannabe dictator who hates us and our values…”

[...]

FOX6 News: Trump's Milwaukee 'horrible city' controversy; leaders respond

[Jason Calvi and FOX6 News Digital Team, 6/13/24]

[...]

Democrats immediately pounced on the "horrible city" comment.

"If Donald Trump was talking about things that he thinks are horrible, all of us lived through his presidency, so right back at you, buddy," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. "He’s running for president, he obviously wants to win Wisconsin, you know, win the election. So, to insult the state that is hosting your convention, I think is kind of bizarre, actually. It’s kind of unhinged in a way."

[...]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats launch billboards in Milwaukee after Trump says it's a 'horrible city'

[Alison Dirr, 6/14/24]

National Democrats are looking to draw attention to former Republican President Donald Trump's Thursday comment that Milwaukee is a "horrible city" by launching 10 billboards with his face and those words.

Democratic National Committee spokesperson Addy Toevs in a statement said Trump had "made his contempt for Wisconsinites and their home clear."

[...]