Trump visiting Baltimore, 1st time since remarks

President Donald Trump on Thursday was making his first visit to Baltimore since describing it nearly two months ago as a ”disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess“where ”no human being would want to live.“

Trump wasn’t inspecting conditions in the city, though. Instead, he was e speaking to congressional Republicans attending an annual retreat in a hotel on the city’s waterfront. Protesters have gathered nearby. But inside, the president would find a friendly audience of legislators whose political futures are closely tied to how well he performs in next year’s election.

Police blocked off a wide perimeter around the hotel. But a few blocks away, demonstrators inflated a giant rat carrying a cell phone and adorned with yellow hair and a red tie to make clear their mocking intentions. Protesters waved signs with messages like ”Trump and the GOP are the real rats,“and ”Welcome rat king.“

The White House said the president has no plans to explore Baltimore beyond his speech, which was to focus on his accomplishments during his first twoplus years in office and priorities for the year ahead.

Trump in July laced into the city in a series of tweets critical of Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, who represents the majorityblack 7th Congressional District in Baltimore and also chairs the House oversight panel conducting numerous investigations of the administration’s policies and work.