Former President Donald Trump shocked politicos Thursday with his reported comment that Milwaukee — the major swing state city he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020 that will also be hosting the Republican National Convention next month —is a "horrible" place.
"A history-making gaffe to insult the convention host city," commented White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates. "No nominee has ever done it."
Trump made this comment to House and Senate Republicans Thursday during a meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss Republican policy plans, according to Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman.
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The comment caused an immediate uproar with lawmakers and political experts who condemned the comment as both dismissive and politically not savvy.
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"Trump going off and calling Milwaukee a 'horrible city' is a pitch perfect way to kick off the inevitable Milwaukee-bashing from Republicans that will surely be a hallmark of the GOP Convention," replied local political columnist Dan Shafer.
"Everyone in the city knew this would happen, and now it's happening."
The feeling appears to be mutual with some businesses in Wisconsin's most populous city. One Milwaukee bar, for instance, is closing during the convention from July 15 to July 18, and the retail giant Kohl's has refused to sponsor it.
"Milwaukee makes the greatest beer, brats, and motorcycles in the world," responded Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). "It's home to some of our most vibrant communities, hardest workers, and is a part of what makes Wisconsin the best state in the nation. Donald Trump wouldn’t understand even if a jury told him so."
Baldwin wasn't the only one to take a jab at Trump's criminal record — Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Milwaukee's representative in the House, also had a snide remark for the former president.
"I am certain he will discover that Milwaukee is a wonderful, vibrant and welcoming city full of diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community," Moore wrote, "once he's settled in with his parole officer."
USA Today columnist Rex Huppke found humor in the situation by imagining how Trump's Milwaukee Republicans might have responded.
"THANK YOU FOR SO WISELY CALLING US HORRIBLE!" Huppke wrote. "WE ARE DESPICABLE AND VILE!"
The Democratic National Committee issued an official statement slamming Trump and the party expected to nominate him as their presidential candidate in July.
“Donald Trump and the RNC haven’t even bothered to set up a real campaign operation in Wisconsin – they’d rather stick to telling voters how much they hate the city they chose to hold their convention in," the statement reads.
"Let’s be clear: Milwaukee is not a horrible city – and Wisconsinites should remember what Donald Trump thinks of them when they vote in November.”
The gaffe could prove problematic for Trump in November. He lost Wisconsin to President Joe Biden in 2020 by just 20,000 votes. Milwaukee gave Biden more than 300,000 votes in the state.