Did Donald Trump call Milwaukee a “terrible city?”
He says no.
In a Saturday post on Truth Social, the 45th president wrote: “The Democrats are making up stories that I said Milwaukee is a ‘terrible city.’ This is not true, a complete lie.”
The “terrible city” quote, first reported Thursday by Punchbowl News, was said to have been delivered to House Republicans during a morning meeting on Capitol Hill as strategies for his campaign were discussed.
Many at the meeting acknowledged that the comment took place, but had different views on what Trump was talking about. Trump called it a “fake story.”
“I chose Milwaukee, I know it right,” Trump said in his post. “It should therefore lead to my winning Wisconsin. But the Democrats are coming out with this fake story, just like everyone else. It never stops. Do not be fooled. Who would say such a thing when that important state is at stake? Vote for Trump, Wisconsin, I won’t let you down!!!”
Trump also referenced other news stories in his Truth post, such as Hunter Biden’s laptop bag and the alleged Russian collusion, also calling both lies and “disinformation.”
The “terrible” comment prompted a swift response from Democrats and others with close ties to Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson responded to the report: “Well, if Donald Trump wants to talk about things he thinks are terrible, we all lived through his presidency, so back to you, buddy.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers posted on X saying, “Add it to the list of things Donald Trump is wrong about.”
Evers also posted a message on June 14 saying, “Milwaukee is a great city. Pass it on.” This prompted others to share photos of themselves in Milwaukee, or of events in the city, with the same wording.
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Republicans have released several stories about what happened at that meeting.
“I was in the room,” wrote U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil of the 2nd Congressional District on X. “President Trump did not say this. There is no better place than Wisconsin in July.”
He later clarified that Trump “had a broad conversation about the challenges we face as a country, particularly the challenges we saw in Milwaukee.”
Others seemingly acknowledged that the comment happened, but tried to clarify what exactly Trump found “terrible.”
An aide to U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald of the 5e Congressional District told the Journal Sentinel that the comments “were about election integrity.”
US Representative Derrick Van Orden of the 3rd Congressional District shared on X that he believes the comment was “specifically referring to the crime rate in Milwaukee.”
Donald Trump will hold a rally in Racine on Tuesday, June 18, at Racine Festival Park.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The red-headed runnerand follow him on X @Redheadliner.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Donald Trump says he didn’t call Milwaukee a ‘terrible city.’
