President Donald Trump is set to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin following the protests and fatal shootings that ensued after Jacob Blake was brutally shot by officers.
On Saturday (Aug. 29), the White House annouced Trump will visit the city to meet with law enforcement and view some of the damage from the recent protests. It is unclear whether he will meet with Blake’s family as his itinerary has not been finalized.
Ahead of the announcement, the president said that it was a possibility he would visit Kenosha and praised the National Guard for their work thus far. He also broke his silence about the disturbing occurrence.
When asked whether he believed Blake’s shooter was justified, he told reporters, “I’m looking into it very strongly. I’ll be getting reports and I’ll certainly let you know pretty soon. It was not a good sight.” “I didn’t like the sight of it certainly, and I think most people would agree with that,” he continued. “We’ll be getting reports very soon and we’ll report back then.”
After the White House announced Trump’s upcoming trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers wrote him a letter, asking him to “reconsider” his visit.
“I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state,” he wrote. “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”
“It is our job as elected officials to lead by example and to be a calming presence for the people we know are hurting, mourning, and trying to cope with trauma,” he went on. “Now is not the time for divisiveness. Now is not the time for elected officials to ignore armed militants and out-of-state instigators who want to contribute to our anguish.”
Wisconsin lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes voiced similar sentiments on Trump’s plans to travel to Kenosha.
“They [Republicans] centered an entire convention around creating more animosity and creating more division around what’s going on in Kenosha,” he told CNN. “So I don’t know how, given any of the previous statements that the president made, that he intends to come here to be helpful, and we absolutely don’t need that right now.”
He expressed himself further on Twitter.
“If he’s [Trump] not coming to recognize the celebration of community that’s going on right now, then keep it,” he penned. “There is too much good starting to happen in Kenosha. The city was on fire and we need healing, not a barrel of gasoline rolling in.”
Despite the concerns from Evers and Barners, however, Trump is still set to go to Kenosha.