President Trump visited the community of Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday to pay tribute after Sunday’s tragic shooting that left nine people dead. He visited patients at Miami Valley Hospital and met with lawmakers including Sen. Sherrod Brown and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. While both leaders were hesitant to welcome him, they agreed it would be best to meet with him — whether for the sake of unity or as an opportunity to confront him on some of the next steps.
But almost immediately after Trump was out of sight, Democrats held a news conference about what happened at the hospital. Whaley and Brown noted that Trump was “well-received” by patients and staff, but they also said they were urging the president to take action on gun control. Specifically, Brown said he tried to convince Trump to force Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reconvene Congress so they could vote on some gun control measures. He also reportedly asked Trump not to touch Obamacare or cut Medicaid because the program is imperative for mental health issues. Brown then lashed out at Republicans, saying they were “following the NRA’s orders.”
The president was horrified that the pair had “misrepresented” the events in Dayton.
I just left Dayton, Ohio, where I met with victims and their families, law enforcement, medical personnel, and first responders. It was a toasty and wonderful visit. Lots of enthusiasm and even love. Then I saw failed presidential candidate (0%) Sherrod Brown and Mayor Whaley completely…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2019
….misrepresenting what was going on at the hospital. Their press conference after I left for El Paso was a fraud. It had nothing to do with what was going on with these amazing people I was lucky enough to meet and spend time with. They were all amazing!o
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2019
Whaley read the tweet and seemed confused because, she noted, she and Brown had told reporters that he had been “well received” at the hospital he visited.
When the mayor of Dayton saw it for the first time @realDonaldTrump write about her on Twitter photo:twitter.com/Z8YdyeebXp
— Scott Wartman (@ScottWartman) August 7, 2019
But White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham was similarly outraged by the Democrats’ narrative, especially what they had to say. NO said the shooting victims and hospital staff were “happy” to see the president.
President @realDonaldTrump He graciously asked Senator Brown and Mayor Whaley to join him as he and the First Lady visited with victims, medical personnel, and first responders. It’s truly melancholy that they would immediately hold such a dishonest press conference in the name of partisan politics. https://t.co/BB0lXhfBnG
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) August 7, 2019
Trump headed straight to El Paso, Texas, after visiting Dayton to spend time with a second community in mourning. On Saturday, a mass shooter killed 22 people at a Wal-Mart, two of whom died from their injuries Monday. His second trip was another chance to unite the left and right, but there, too, he found some officials who rejected even meet him.
