Former President Donald Trump’s comments reportedly calling Milwaukee a “horrible city” continue to spark debate as Republicans and Trump’s campaign dispute the characterization of his comments, and Democrats persistently amplify his words — including through a new billboard campaign in the city.
In his closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Thursday, Trump called Milwaukee, which is hosting the Republican National Convention next month, a “horrible city,” sources told ABC News.
The comments, first reported by Punchbowl News, attacked Milwaukee — a major city in a key battleground state in the 2024 election where both Trump and President Joe Biden are working to woo voters.
Trump clarified his comments in an interview with WITI-TV, the Milwaukee Fox News station, on Thursday.
“It was very clear what I meant. I said, we’re very concerned with crime,” Trump said. “I love Milwaukee, I have great friends in Milwaukee. The crime numbers are terrible and we have to be very careful.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs after delivering remarks at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, June 13, 2024, in Washington.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Trump’s campaign spokesperson also punched back on the reports, arguing that Trump’s words were taken out of context.
“He was talking about how terrible crime and voter fraud are,” said campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung.
In another statement, the campaign wrote that it was a “total lie” that Trump called Milwaukee a “horrible city.” However, they went on to add, “President Trump was explicitly referring to the problems in Milwaukee, specifically violent crime and voter fraud,” suggesting he did make comments about the city, just not in the way some were interpreting it.
The campaign then includes a series of tweets from Republican members from Wisconsin inside the room who agree with the campaign’s description that Trump was not making a blanket disparaging statement about the city.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, June 9, 2024, in Las Vegas.
John Locher/AP, FILE
Republicans — including those from Wisconsin — quickly jumped to Trump’s defense, insisting the former president was talking about crime and election security.
“@realdonaldtrump was specifically referring to the CRIME RATE in Milwaukee,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden posted on X after the meeting.
Rep. Glenn Grothman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Trump “was concerned about the election” and “felt we need to do better in urban centers around the country.”
Rep. Bryan Steil claimed on X that Trump “did not say this” in the conference meeting.
“There is no better place than Wisconsin in July,” Steil said.
The front page of Friday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel featured Trump’s words front and center: “Trump: Milwaukee ‘horrible.'”
Biden’s campaign and other Democrats are also teeing off on Trump’s comments.
President of the United States Joe Biden speaks at a campaign rally with Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris at Girard College, May 29, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Anadolu via Getty Images, FILE
Biden’s campaign is starting to sell merchandise, including stickers and T-shirts that read “(NOT) a horrible city” on top of the Wisconsin state outline as well as “I love Milwaukee” T-shirts where the heart is replaced with beer, an homage to the many breweries around the state.
On Friday, the Democratic National Committee announced that the group has paid to put up billboards around Milwaukee with Trump’s reported comments criticizing the city.
The billboards, which will launch in 10 different locations across the city, feature the quote that Trump is reported to have said during Thursday’s closed-door House Republican meeting: “Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city.”
In a post on X, Biden responded to Trump’s comments with a photo of him with the Milwaukee Bucks after they won the 2021 NBA Championship.
“I happen to love Milwaukee.”
Trump’s rivals are accusing him of abandoning the pivotal swing state — including Wisconsin’s Democrats.
“If Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so horrible, then he shouldn’t come to our city,” Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign Manager Garren Randolph said in a statement. “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.”
Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign event in Racine, Wisconsin — 30 miles south of Milwaukee — next Tuesday, where he will focus his remarks on inflation and immigration. In just over a month, Trump will return to Milwaukee to accept the Republican nomination at the party’s convention.
Recently, the city of Milwaukee found itself at the center of a political firestorm after President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about the city during a rally in Wisconsin. Trump referred to Milwaukee as a “horrible city” and criticized its leadership, sparking outrage among residents and politicians alike.
Republicans, including those in Trump’s camp, have been quick to defend the President’s comments, arguing that he was simply highlighting the issues facing Milwaukee and other cities run by Democratic leaders. They point to high crime rates, poverty levels, and failing infrastructure as evidence that the city is indeed facing serious challenges.
On the other hand, Democrats and their presidential nominee Joe Biden have condemned Trump’s remarks as divisive and disrespectful. They argue that Trump’s comments only serve to further polarize the country and undermine efforts to address the systemic issues facing cities like Milwaukee.
In response to the controversy, both parties have been quick to highlight their respective plans for addressing the challenges facing cities like Milwaukee. Republicans have emphasized the need for law and order, advocating for increased police presence and tougher sentencing for criminals. Democrats, on the other hand, have focused on social and economic reforms, calling for investments in education, healthcare, and affordable housing to uplift struggling communities.
The debate over Trump’s comments about Milwaukee has once again highlighted the deep political divide in America. While Republicans and Democrats may differ on how best to address the issues facing cities like Milwaukee, one thing is clear: both sides agree that more needs to be done to improve the lives of residents and create a brighter future for all Americans.
