Trump calls RNC host Milwaukee a "horrible" city
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Former President Trump told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill Thursday that Milwaukee, the site of the Republican National Convention, is a "horrible" city, a GOP lawmaker told Axios.
Why it matters: Trump often paints Democratic-led cities as overrun by crime and undocumented immigrants. He has previously alleged — without evidence — that Milwaukee was a hub of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
- Trump lost Wisconsin to President Biden by about 20,000 votes in 2020. Several of his allies were charged this month in an alleged scheme to overturn Wisconsin's election results through a false slate of electors.
- "It's a battleground state, it matters," former RNC chair Reince Priebus told the AP after Wisconsin was unanimously picked to be the convention site in 2022. "I know sometimes we debate it, but it matters."
Between the lines: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) disputed that Trump was attacking Milwaukee's character, claiming on X that the former president was "specifically referring" to the city's high crime rate.
- Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) denied Trump made the remark at all: "I was in the room. President Trump did not say this. There is no better place than Wisconsin in July."
- Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung later tweeted that Trump's comments had been misunderstood, and that Trump was "talking about how terrible crime and voter fraud are."
The other side: "Once [Trump is] settled in with his parole officer, I am certain he will discover that Milwaukee is a wonderful, vibrant and welcoming city full of diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community," Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) tweeted.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the comment by Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung.
