Donald Trump will make a pitch for support in the key state of Wisconsin on Tuesday, just days after calling its largest population center, Milwaukee, “a terrible city.”
In what will also be his first visit to the Midwestern state since last month’s felony conviction related to hush-money payments, Trump will hold a ticket-only rally in Racine, a city of about 76,000. the shores of Lake Michigan, about 30 miles away. from Milwaukee.
The former president will make comments “about Joe Biden‘s failed presidency,” his campaign said.
His message will compete with a billboard placed nearby by the Democratic National Committee, intended to remind locals of his comments from Milwaukee, which were reportedly made to House Republicans last week during Trump’s first visit to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6 attack by a mob that tried to undo his message. presidential election loss to Joe Biden.
“You want to know what really ‘terrible’ is?’ Donald Trump for Wisconsin’s economy,” the ad will say.
Republicans have been at pains to downplay or otherwise explain the unflattering reference to Milwaukee — all the more embarrassing because the city will host the party’s national convention, which begins July 15 and will feature Trump’s nomination will become official as a presidential candidate.
Trump himself has characteristically denied even uttering the comment, which was first reported on the Punchbowl website.
“The Democrats are making up stories that I said Milwaukee is a ‘terrible city.’ This is false, a complete lie, just like the Laptop from Hell was a lie, Russia… was a lie, and so much more,” he posted on his Truth Social site.
“It’s called disinformation, and that’s all they know how to do. I chose Milwaukee, I know that well. 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 something like that when that important state is at stake?”
He delivered a different message in an interview with Fox 6 News, in which he implicitly acknowledged the comment by attempting to clarify.
“I think it was very clear what I meant. We are very concerned about crime. I love Milwaukee,” he said. ‘But as you know, the crime rates are terrible and we have to be very careful. But I also referred to the elections,” when he unsuccessfully disputed the voting figures by falsely claiming fraud.
Whatever the explanation, Democrats have announced plans to make money by erecting 10 billboards in Milwaukee in the run-up to the convention featuring Trump’s negative description.
The ads coincide with a $50 million advertising offensive in battleground states, centered on a Biden campaign video addressing Trump’s convicted felon status following his conviction in a Manhattan court for falsifying documents to extract hush money payments from Stormy Daniels hide. an adult film actor.
The intense reporting reflects Wisconsin’s status as a potentially crucial swing state, with Racine County among the most competitive. Trump won the county by 50% and 51% in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush won the election by similar margins in their two election victories.
Biden, who won Wisconsin by 21,000 votes in 2020, visited Racine last month, where he highlighted a $3.3 billion investment planned by Microsoft in the area as evidence of the benefits of his economic policies.
A RealClearPolitics survey this week showed Biden posting an approval rating of 39.3% in Wisconsin, while 55.7% disapproved.
Trump and Biden are neck-and-neck in most national polls, with the former president leading in several battleground states.
