The recent wave of misinformation targeting former President Donald Trump has been quickly debunked. According to a report by Punchbowl News, during a closed-door meeting with GOP congressmen, it was alleged that Trump spoke negatively about Milwaukee, the city slated to host his acceptance of the Republican nomination.
The comment that sparked the controversy was part of a broader discussion on issues plaguing several U.S. cities, including Milwaukee, with a focus on violent crime and voter fraud—issues that Trump has frequently highlighted.
The Associated Press reported on Thursday that “Former President Donald Trump used the word ‘horrible’ in talking about Milwaukee — the city where he will accept the Republican nomination next month — during a closed-door meeting Thursday with GOP congressmen, according to several people in the room who spoke afterward.”
?TRUMP TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS:
“Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city.”
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 13, 2024
The Trump campaign and scores of Republicans in the room at the time quickly debunked Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman, whose X post implied Trump had denigrated the city itself. “In a desperate attempt to get likes, Fake News Jake Sherman—who wasn’t even in the room—falsely claimed that President Trump called Milwaukee a ‘horrible city.’ It’s a total lie,” a Trump press release read. “President Trump was explicitly referring to the problems in Milwaukee, specifically violent crime and voter fraud.”
Multiple members of Congress, including representatives from Wisconsin, refuted Sherman’s inaccurate claim. According to several congressmen who were present, Trump’s reference to “horrible” specifically addressed systemic issues, not the city of Milwaukee or its residents. The quick clarification from those in attendance not only corrected the false narrative but also underscored a recurring problem in today’s media landscape—drawing conclusions prematurely without adequate evidence or, in the case of Trump, simply fabricating a story to make him look bad.
Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) noted, “I was in the room. President Trump did not say this. There is no better place than Wisconsin in July.” Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06) added that Trump was “concerned about the election in Milwaukee” and emphasized the need for improvement in urban centers across the country. Also, Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) interpreted Trump’s remarks as a combination of concerns over election integrity and crime.