Dayton Mayor on Trump Skipping Visit to Shooting Site: Business Owners Didn’t Want Him There
THANKS BUT NO THANKS
Leah Millis/Reuters
President Trump visited the city of Dayton on Wednesday, but absent from his trip was a stop to the area’s Oregon District, where Sunday’s mass shooting claimed nine lives. “I think it was a good decision for him not to stop in the Oregon District,” Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said. “I think a lot of people that own businesses in that district aren’t interested in the president being there. And, you know, a lot of the time his talk can be very divisive, and that’s the last thing we need in Dayton.” Whaley made the remarks during a press conference following Trump’s visit, in which she and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spoke.
Trump had a different take on things, heading to Twitter to say, “It was a warm & wonderful visit. Tremendous enthusiasm & even Love.” “Then I saw failed Presidential Candidate (0%) Sherrod Brown & Mayor Whaley totally misrepresenting what took place inside of the hospital,” he added. “Their news conference after I left for El Paso was a fraud. It bore no resemblance to what took place with those incredible people that I was so lucky to meet and spend time with. They were all amazing!”
During his visit, Trump met with first responders and survivors of the shooting. Dozens of protesters had reportedly gathered for Trump’s visit, but Trump only stopped at Miami Valley Hospital and did not speak publicly. Whaley previously said Trump’s rhetoric has been “painful” for the community, adding that she was “disappointed” with the president’s remarks about the shooting.