When Republicans gather in Milwaukee next month to nominate Donald J. Trump for president, he initially planned to stay at a Trump hotel in Chicago, 90 miles away. However, upon being contacted by reporters for comments on his decision, Mr. Trump changed his plans to stay in Milwaukee instead. This decision was made in order to avoid any perceived slight to the city of Milwaukee, which is a key battleground state. Mr. Trump has been on the defensive about his views on Milwaukee ever since reports surfaced that he had called it a “horrible” city in a private meeting with House Republicans in Washington.
The initial decision for Mr. Trump to stay at his Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago was based on his personal preference as well as security and logistics concerns. However, Mr. Trump generally prefers to sleep at his own properties while campaigning, and it is possible that his plans could change again before the convention starts on July 15. The Secret Service has indicated that they will work closely with law enforcement to ensure a comprehensive security plan is in place for the convention. Mr. Trump’s decision to stay in Chicago would have likely been used by Democrats in their attacks against him.
Wisconsin is a crucial state in the upcoming election, with both the Trump and Biden campaigns focusing intensively on it. Mr. Trump aims to regain the state after losing it to Mr. Biden by a slim margin in 2020. Immigration has been a central issue in Mr. Trump’s campaign pitch, with him criticizing Mr. Biden’s policies on the border and promising to restore his hard-line policies if elected. He has also repeated his false claims about voter fraud in Milwaukee, despite a nonpartisan audit finding no evidence to support these claims.
At a rally in Racine, Mr. Trump continued to criticize Democratic-led cities as unsafe and promised to rebuild and improve American cities. He attacked Mr. Biden’s handling of the border and described his new policy of providing legal protections to certain undocumented immigrants as amnesty. Mr. Trump vowed to conduct huge deportations if elected, characterizing the surge of migrants across the border as an “invasion.” He falsely claimed that the 2020 election had been rigged and stolen from him, despite numerous audits proving otherwise.
Mr. Trump’s comments about Milwaukee and other Democratic-led cities have been met with both support and criticism. Some attendees at his rally in Racine defended his remarks, stating that the crime in the city is a reality that needs to be addressed. However, Mr. Trump’s rhetoric about Milwaukee and other cities has been used as fuel for Democratic attacks against him. As the election draws nearer, Wisconsin remains a key state that both campaigns are focusing on, with the outcome expected to be crucial in deciding the next president.
