Sen. Tammy Baldwin Blasts Trump's 'Divisive' Wisconsin Visit

The out senator says Trump will create more strife in a state still reeling from the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

September 01 2020 9:33 AM EST

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The governor of Wisconsin, the mayor of Kenosha, and now Wisconsin's out U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin are condemning President Trump's visit to the state on Tuesday.

Wisconsin politicians fear the incendiary Trump will sow more chaos in the state following riots, killings, and a high-profile police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, that left him paralyzed.

Trump has twice defended the actions of one of his supporters, accused killer Kyle Rittenhouse. The 17-year-old police proponent is charged with the intentional homicide of two people during protests last week that followed Blake's shooting. Trump has so far refused to communicate with Blake's family members, claiming he will not speak with them if their attorney is present.

"This President has not provided leadership that unites people and he has a bad habit of being divisive, which is not what the Kenosha community and Wisconsin wants or needs," Baldwin said in her statement. "I want President Trump to do what Jacob Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, has asked every American to do - examine your heart."

\u201c.@realDonaldTrump has not provided leadership that unites people and he has a bad habit of being divisive, which is not what the Kenosha community wants or needs.\n\nI want @POTUS to do what Jacob Blake\u2019s mother, Julia Jackson, has asked every American to do \u2013 examine your heart.\u201d
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@Sen. Tammy Baldwin) 1598974907

Baldwin also admonished Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Twitter for refusing to take action on a Senate version of the House's Justice in Policing Act, which would add reforms and address systemic racism within police forces.

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\u201cPresident Trump needs to end his opposition to the #JusticeInPolicing Act.\n\nThe House passed this reform over two months ago, and today @realDonaldTrump should announce his support for a Senate vote.\n\nIt\u2019s time for leadership and action. https://t.co/80fbqE8UeZ\u201d
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@Sen. Tammy Baldwin) 1598980084

Trump is running on a "law and order" platform and trying to call attention to violence in hopes of helping him win reelection. Wisconsin is a critical must-win state for Trump; he won it in 2016 by less than 23,000 votes.