Trump calls Milwaukee a “terrible” city ahead of the Republican convention

During a meeting with Republicans in the House of Representatives on Thursday, former President Donald Trump called Milwaukee — the host of the 2024 Republican National Convention — a “terrible” city and said it is overrun by crime.

The comments, which were first reported by Punchbowl's Jake Sherman and confirmed by NBC Newsdrew criticism from Democrats, while Trump's allies rushed to defend his comments.

Trump's campaign denied calling the city “terrible.” press release that the reports are a “total lie.” Yet the campaign still seemed to imply that Trump spoke disparagingly of the city.

“President Trump made explicit reference to the problems in Milwaukee, particularly violent crime and voter fraud,” the campaign said in its statement.

Several Republican lawmakers also denied that he made the comments during the meeting at the Capitol Hill Club. The event took place just weeks before the Republican convention in Milwaukee, where the party will officially nominate Trump as its presidential candidate.

Republican Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin replied to a message on X reporting Trump's comment that Milwaukee is a “terrible” city.

'I was in the room. President Trump has not said this,” Steil said. “There's no better place than Wisconsin in July.”

Other Republicans in Congress sought to explain and contextualize Trump's comments, rather than deny them. Representative Derrick Van Orden, of Wisconsin, wrote in a post on X that the former president was specifically referring to crime in the city, while others reportedly said Trump was talking about election integrity.

Wisconsin is a key battleground state that Trump narrowly lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

While Milwaukee, the largest city, has publicly welcomed the opportunity to host the RNC, the Democratic-led city has had a rocky relationship with the Republican Party. CNBC reported on June 6 that Milwaukee-based department store Kohl's will not sponsor events related to the Republican convention.

Democrats quickly took advantage of Trump's comments.

In a clear response, Biden said on X posted a photo of the Milwaukee Bucks' 2021 visit to the White House with the caption: “I happen to love Milwaukee.”

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, a Democrat, said: “If Donald Trump wants to talk about things he thinks are terrible, we all lived through his presidency, so back to you, friend.”

Garren Randolph, Wisconsin's Democratic campaign manager, said in a statement: “If Donald Trump thinks Milwaukee is so awful, then he shouldn't come to our city.”

“Milwaukee voters are tired of Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans not caring about them,” Randolph added. “We'll see that at the RNC — and then again in November when Wisconsinites take on Donald Trump.”

It is unknown whether Trump will be in Milwaukee to accept his nomination at the convention.

The former president was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, and his sentencing is set for July 11 – the day before the Republican convention begins.

Some Democrats referenced Trump's criminal conviction in their responses to his comments Thursday.

“Milwaukee makes the best beer, brats and motorcycles in the world,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said in a message about narrate.”

Rep. Gwen Moore, a Democrat who represents Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District, which includes Milwaukee, also referenced his conviction in her response.

“Once he settles in with his probation officer, I am confident he will discover that Milwaukee is a beautiful, vibrant and welcoming city, full of diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community,” Moore wrote in a message on X.