Former President Donald Trump plans to visit Chicago during the Republican National Convention, more than an hour's drive from the convention venue in Milwaukee, according to sources familiar with his plans, but he insisted Tuesday that he would “stay” in Milwaukee and again denied reports that he It is a “horrible city”.
Trump is expected to attend a fundraising event in Chicago, although details are still being worked out. The former president will remain in Milwaukee to accept the Republican nomination Thursday evening, a campaign official told ABC News.
Earlier Tuesday, several officials briefed on security plans and logistical arrangements indicated that Trump would likely stay overnight at his Chicago property — the Trump International Hotel and Tower — for the duration of the Republican National Convention.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at 180 Church, June 15, 2024, in Detroit.
Carlos Osorio/AP
Later Tuesday, the former president denied reports that he would not be staying in the host city in an interview with a local Milwaukee television station.
“I'm going to stay here. I always planned to stay here,” Trump told WTMJ while campaigning in Wisconsin. “Again, I chose Milwaukee for a reason.”
After reporters — including reporters from ABC News, ABC affiliate WLS in Chicago, and the New York Times — reached out to the campaign to confirm the logistics, Carolyn Leavitt, the Trump campaign's national press secretary, issued a statement saying: “President Trump remains in the White House.” “Milwaukee.”
Trump held a campaign event in Racine, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, 30 miles south of Milwaukee, where he touched on inflation and immigration.
During his remarks, Trump said, “I love Milwaukee” – a reference to the former president calling Milwaukee a “horrible city” during a closed meeting with Republicans in Congress last Thursday.
“I'm the one who chose Milwaukee, I gotta tell you, I'm the one who chose him (for the Republican National Committee),” Trump said during his campaign rally. “Those lying people who say, 'Oh, he doesn't like Milwaukee.' I love Milwaukee.”
This appearance represents Trump's third visit to the Midwestern state, where he is trying to differentiate himself from President Joe Biden.
His insistence Tuesday that he “always plans to stay” in Milwaukee comes after his disparaging remarks about the city.
Trump's campaign has disputed the characterization of his comments, and Democrats have continued to amplify his reported words — including through a new billboard campaign in the city.
A Trump campaign spokesman responded to the reports, saying Trump's words were taken out of context.
“He was talking about how terrible the crimes and voter fraud are,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said.
In another statement, the campaign wrote that Trump's description of Milwaukee as a “horrible city” was a “total lie.” However, she added that “President Trump was explicitly referring to problems in Milwaukee, specifically violent crime and voter fraud,” suggesting that he had made comments about the city, but not in the way some were interpreting them.
ABC News' Lale Ebsa and Soren Kim contributed to this report.
