Trump news: President heads to El Paso after attacking Dayton mayor and being met with protests in Ohio
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump visited El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday to pay his respects and meet with first responders following mass shootings in both communities over the weekend that left 31 dead.
As the president served his role of consoler-in-chief, he encountered a sometimes hostile reception, and went on the offensive against his critics in spite of the solemn nature of his duties.
"We had an amazing day, as you know we left Ohio and there was a lot of love, and a lot of respect," Mr Trump said in El Paso after meeting with first responders, doctors, nurses and survivors.
"There are a lot of heroes. A lot of heroes, and a lot of people who are just incredible," Mr Trump said in Texas.
Mr Trump had attacked 2020 contender Beto O’Rourke late on Tuesday night, telling him to “be quiet” after the candidate said his racist rhetoric was responsible for the massacre at a Wal-Mart in his hometown of El Paso.
Mr O’Rourke, whose hometown is El Paso, responded: “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
Meanwhile, in Ohio, Dayton mayor Nan Whaley also criticised Mr Trump saying “he’s made this bed and he’s gotta lie in it” while the state’s Republican governor Mike DeWine called for expanded gun laws to stop further outbreaks of violence. Protests are widely expected in both cities.
Shortly after Mr Trump's visit to Dayton, Ms Whaley signalled that Mr Trump had been respectful during his meetings with first responders and victims in her city, but called on him to pass gun control measures alongside senator Sherrod Brown.
Mr Trump later attacked Ms Whaley and Mr Brown, saying they had misrepresented their conversations.
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Donald Trump answered a question about the threat of violent white supremacists in the United States while discussing the recent spate of deadly mass shootings by instead calling out the anti-fascists movement known as Antifa.
“I am concerned about the rise of any group of hate,” the president said Wednesday, seemingly deflecting from the question at hand. “I don't like it...Whether it's white supremacy, whether it’s any other kind of supremacy. Whether it's Antifa.”
It was just the latest apparent attempt by the president to conflate Antifa — a left-wing movement with no central command structure that consists of autonomous groups and individuals — with violence stemming from white nationalism. However, experts say the real threat in America is deadly white supremacists.
Story to come...
Donald Trump is now attacking the local leaders in Dayton, Ohio, calling a news conference they held shortly after his visit a "fraud" -
Joe Biden did not mince words when he attacked Donald Trump and the comments the president delivered in the wake of the mass shootings over the weekend -
Donald Trump also tweeted another attack against Fox News, this time aimed at a host known to criticise and fact-check the president, while simultaneously promoting his new-favourite right-wing news channel:
Mr Trump has now landed in El Paso, with his plane taxiing on the tarmac now.
Here's Clark Mindock with more on the president's harsh comments towards the local politicians in Ohio:
The president has descended from Air Force one in El Paso, where he was greeted by Texas governor Greg Abbott, and senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
Notably absent is congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who turned down an invitation to join Mr Trump's motorcade.
The motorcade is now on its way to the hospital where Mr Trump is to meet with shooting survivors.
Donald Trump has been booed and cheered during his visit to El Paso, where local leaders had told him not to show up following the massacre at a Walmart over the weekend.
Here is a message from the White House as Donald Trump nears the hospital in El Paso:
Today, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit with first responders, hospital staff, and victims and their families at University Medical Center of El Paso. Accompanying the President and First Lady during the visit are Jacob Cintron, Chief Executive Officer, University Medical Center, Maria Zampini, Chief Operating Officer, University Medical Center, and Henry Gallardo, Board Chair, El Paso County Hospital District Board of Managers.
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