Trump visits Dayton, El Paso
President’s trip draws protesters
DAYTON, Ohio — President Donald Trump’s visit Wednesday to meet with victims and first responders in Sunday’s mass shooting devolved into a Twitter feud among Mr. Trump, Ohio’s Democratic U. S. senator and the mayor of a city where nine people were gunned down and hundreds protested the president’s visit.
Aiming to play the traditional role of healer in the wake of backtoback tragedy that killed 31 people, Mr. Trump also paid a visit Wednesday to El Paso, Texas, another city reeling from a mass shooting. But his divisive words preceded him, large protests greeted him and biting political attacks soon followed.
For most of the day, the president was kept out of view of the reporters traveling with him, but the White House said the president and first lady Melania Trump met with hospital staff and first responders and spent time with wounded survivors and their families.
In Ohio, Mr. Trump took issue with how his trip to Miami Valley Hospital, where multiple victims were treated after the shooting, was portrayed in a news conference by Sen. Sherrod Brown and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, both Democrats.
It wasn’t clear what about their characterization Mr. Trump was disputing.
Mr. Trump told them he was “with them,” said press secretary Stephanie Grisham. “Everybody received him very warmly. Everybody was very, very excited to see him.” Mr. Trump said the same about his reception in the few moments he spoke with the media at a 911 call center in El Paso.
Mr. Brown and Ms. Whaley took questions from reporters after spending time with Mr. Trump and were asked how the president
was received by those he was visiting.
“A number of them said to me they’re not great admirers of him privately, but they clearly showed respect when the president of the United States is in town,” said Mr. Brown, who at first had not planned to be a part of the delegation that accompanied Mr. Trump.
“They were hurting, he was comforting,” he said. “He did the right things. [ Mrs. Trump] did the right things.”
Ms. Whaley said, “I think the victims and the first responders were grateful that the president of the United States came to Dayton,” adding that she thought it was the right move for him to skip visiting the Oregon District, where the shooting occurred.
While Mr. Brown called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to convene a session to vote on a background check bill that passed the U. S. House, Ms. Whaley is advocating a bipartisan “red- flag” law proposal that’s gaining behindthe- scenes support in Washington and would include Ohio and Texas as pilot states.
But she said, “I’m not holding my breath” for change in Washington.
Mr. Trump traveled to Texas and Ohio Wednesday amid renewed calls for gun- control measures in Congress.
On Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine proposed a version of a “red- flag” law and background checks on virtually all gun sales, measures that would need to be passed by the GOP- controlled General Assembly.
Connor Betts was armed with an assault- style rifle and extra magazines capable of firing up to 100 rounds in the Dayton shooting. Police shot and killed him in under 30 seconds.
In a tweet just after he left on Air Force One, Mr. smirking. Lead,” she Trump wrote, “It was a wrote. warm & wonderful visit. In a statement, Mr. Tremendous enthusiasm Brown said, “I don’t care & even Love. Then I saw what he says about me. But failed Presidential Candidate the people of Dayton deserve ( 0%) Sherrod Brown a President more focused & Mayor Whaley totally on protecting them misrepresenting what took from gun violence than place inside of the hospital. protecting his own ego.” Their news conference after The spat capped off a day I left for El Paso was a of protests outside the hospital fraud. It bore no resemblance and in the Oregon District to what took place where, at one point, a with those incredible people shouting match erupted that I was so lucky to between a group that arrived meet and spend time with.” with a Trump campaign
Ms. Whaley was meeting flag and those chanting, with Ohio reporters “Do something!” — the when the president rally cry for gun control tweeted. Reading it on her ever since Gov. Mike phone, she said she was DeWine addressed a vigil confused by what he wrote. the day of the shooting.
“We said he was treated “I’m just here because very well,” she said, shaking the president is coming,” her head. said Jim Stevens, 64, one of
“Oh well, you know. He the supporters who came lives in his world of Twitter.” with the flag. “I feel sorry for them,”
The statements from he said of people protesting both sides continued, with who feel the president’s Mr. Brown calling the president rhetoric is racist. “He’s not a “bully” and a “coward” racist at all. He wants everybody and Ohio Republican to be legal when Party Chairman Jane they come to this country.” Timken saying the two Most of the demonstrators leaders had “chosen the lining the cobblestone low road.” Ms. Timken street had signs condemning said Ms. Whaley encouraged the president and calling protesters during Mr. for gun reform. The Trump’s visit. backdrop to the spat were
“I’m tired of this divisiveness memorials with flower bouquets on the heels of this and messages written catastrophe. Stop on the sidewalk in chalk.
“We’re just here in support of Dayton, and we don’t want Trump here. I feel like Trump is a symbol of hatred,” said Trisha Osama, a 44- year- old who owns three day- care centers in Dayton and was holding a sign, “Trump = Hate.”
In El Paso, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke spoke to several hundred people at a separate gathering. Mr. O’Rourke, a potential Democratic 2020 presidential rival, has blistered Mr. Trump as a racist instigator, but he also told those in his audience the open way the people of his hometown treat each other could be “the example to the United States of America.”
Mr. Trump’s motorcade passed El Paso protesters holding “Racist Go Home” signs. And Mr. Trump spent part of his flight between Ohio and Texas airing his grievances on Twitter, berating Democratic lawmakers, Mr. O’Rourke and the press.
The president did not make public comments during his visits.
“My critics are political people,” Mr. Trump said as he left the White House, noting the apparent political leanings of the shooter in the Dayton killings, 24year- old Betts, who supported liberal politicians. He also defended his rhetoric on issues including immigration, claiming instead that he “brings people together.”
The El Paso shooter who murdered 22 people had posted an online manifesto railing against immigrants minutes before his attack Saturday. The president’s detractors have blamed him for using rhetoric that inflames racial tensions and anti- immigrant sentiment.