Trump visit to city planned for Oct. 28; would be first as president
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, who has been attacking Chicago’s handling of crime for years, plans to make his first visit to Chicago as president on Oct. 28 for a high-dollar fundraiser and possibly a speech to a national convention of police chiefs.
Trump hits the city for a lunch co-hosted by Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, chairman of the combined fundraising efforts for the Trump 2020 campaign and the Republican National Committee. As of Friday, a source said the location has not been finalized; one possibility is Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., or another downtown venue. Wrigley Field has been ruled out as a venue.
When it comes to other Chicago visits, Trump had planned a campaign rally in Chicago on March 11, 2016, during the presidential campaign. But that rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago was canceled about half an hour before it was scheduled to start after protesters sparked security concerns.
On Sept. 28, 2016, Trump returned to Chicago for a campaign event at the Polish National Alliance headquarters, 6100 N. Cicero Ave., and a fundraiser in south suburban Bolingbrook. His visit came two days after he compared Chicago to a “war-torn country” because of its crime.
Trump has been to other parts of Illinois twice so far as president.
On July 26, 2018, Trump spoke at a U.S. Steel mill in Granite City, not far from St. Louis. And on Oct. 27, 2018, days before the midterm elections, Trump headlined a rally for GOP candidates in downstate Murphysboro.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police is holding its annual conference in Chicago Oct. 26-29. A source told the Sun-Times Trump is likely to speak to the group; he did last year when they met in Orlando.