Trump’s ‘horrible city’ comment on Milwaukee was about ‘policies,’ says NY congresswoman who provoked response

WATERTOWN, Wis. — Republican lawmakers offered differing accounts of former President Donald Trump’s alleged comment Thursday that “Milwaukee is a terrible city,” but the congresswoman who asked the question that prompted the comment told The Washington Post that the context was clear.

The internet went crazy on Thursday morning. Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News report “Milwaukee, where we’re holding our convention, is a terrible city,” Trump said at a Capitol Hill meeting with House Republicans.

Wisconsin lawmakers attended and spoke. He disputed the report.But even they made contradictory statements: one said he was referring to election integrity, one said he was talking about crime, and two claimed he said no such thing at all.

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) said she asked the question that prompted the Milwaukee reference, telling The Washington Post that the Republican presidential nominee, a frequent critic of voter fraud and election integrity, was talking about policy.

“The president just laid out policies that would lead to victory,” she said in the call. “I stood up and asked the same question I’ve said in the media and in previous interviews: I’m concerned that Democrats are interested in winning on process, not policy. What are we doing to make sure that there’s no vote harvesting or illegal immigrant harvesting of ballots, which we know Democrats are doing? The president immediately pointed out that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley was there,” she explained.

“He was talking specifically about voter fraud and about 19 areas that they’ve identified where there has been known voter fraud or attempts to steer the election in favor of Democrats.”

She said she had heard the former president say nothing about crime. “I think he actually even said, ‘This was a horror show… this voter fraud. We’re targeting these 19 areas,'” she said. “My impression is we were talking about voter fraud.”

Tenney, who represents upstate New York’s 24th Congressional District, said she has heard concerns about the integrity of the election from both Republicans and Democrats, and she believes all major races this fall will be close.

Tenney is used to close elections: In 2020, she reclaimed her seat by 109 votes after a lengthy recount.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson He said at a press conference “If Donald Trump wants to say something nasty, we’ve all lived through his presidency, and we’re going to say it to you,” she said Thursday.

“Restoring trust” It is the theme Milwaukee Board of Elections officials And the media various problem Vote counting for the 2020 presidential election took place in the city, fuelling allegations of election fraud.

Both State Legislature Audit and Private audit The audits by a nonprofit, conservative state law firm found no widespread voter fraud in Wisconsin’s 2020 election, but both audits cited irregularities and noncompliance with election laws and procedures.

In the April general election, Wisconsin Voters Approved Two referendums amending the state constitution to ban the use of private funds in election administration and provide that only election officials may perform election duties.

The use of private funds in the 2020 election, particularly in the state’s five most populous (and largely Democratic) cities, has sparked outrage among conservatives in Wisconsin and beyond.

The Republican National Committee has launched a “Protect the Vote” campaign to recruit poll watchers and election lawyers in 15 states, including Wisconsin and other battleground states.

A spokesman for the Republican National Convention did not respond to a request for comment.