Trump news: President heads to El Paso after attacking Dayton mayor and being met with protests in Ohio
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump visited El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday to pay his respects and meet with first responders following mass shootings in both communities over the weekend that left 31 dead.
As the president served his role of consoler-in-chief, he encountered a sometimes hostile reception, and went on the offensive against his critics in spite of the solemn nature of his duties.
"We had an amazing day, as you know we left Ohio and there was a lot of love, and a lot of respect," Mr Trump said in El Paso after meeting with first responders, doctors, nurses and survivors.
"There are a lot of heroes. A lot of heroes, and a lot of people who are just incredible," Mr Trump said in Texas.
Mr Trump had attacked 2020 contender Beto O’Rourke late on Tuesday night, telling him to “be quiet” after the candidate said his racist rhetoric was responsible for the massacre at a Wal-Mart in his hometown of El Paso.
Mr O’Rourke, whose hometown is El Paso, responded: “22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
Meanwhile, in Ohio, Dayton mayor Nan Whaley also criticised Mr Trump saying “he’s made this bed and he’s gotta lie in it” while the state’s Republican governor Mike DeWine called for expanded gun laws to stop further outbreaks of violence. Protests are widely expected in both cities.
Shortly after Mr Trump's visit to Dayton, Ms Whaley signalled that Mr Trump had been respectful during his meetings with first responders and victims in her city, but called on him to pass gun control measures alongside senator Sherrod Brown.
Mr Trump later attacked Ms Whaley and Mr Brown, saying they had misrepresented their conversations.
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Here's the president’s schedule for the day:
9:00am EST: Donald Trump will depart the White House with Melania Trump en route to Joint Base Andrews for his first stop of the day in Ohio.
10:35am EST: President and first lady arrive in Ohio.
12:45pm EST: Depart from Ohio to Texas
1:45pm EST: President and first lady arrive in El Paso, Texas
4:20pm EST: Depart from Texas to Washington
The president and first lady are then expected back at the White House by 10:15pm EST.
Texas congressman Joaquin Castro, the bearded twin brother of 2020 presidential candidate Julian Castro, has been accused of "encouraging violence" after posting the names of 44 Trump donors in his district on Twitter and saying: "Their contributions are fuelling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as invaders."
Donald Trump has told reporters he has a meeting scheduled with members of Congress to tackle gun control reform in the wake of deadly mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. The president was speaking with reporters before departing the White House to visit both communities inflicted by a spate of gun violence gripping the country.
Mr Trump said he was looking to do background checks and stressed he does not want “sick” people to have access to weaponry.
We’ll bring video of his comments as it comes in.
The president is telling reporters there is no political appetite for a ban on assault rifles on Capitol Hill, and that his rhetoric has no impact on the country.
"I think something is going to come up, I think we're going to come up with something that's really good, that's better than anything that's been done before," the president told reporters, discussing gun control reform in the wake of the deadly mass shootings that gripped the nation.
"You have to have a political appetite within Congress and so far I have not seen that," Donald Trump said Wednesday, but said there was interest in addressing mental health issues on Capitol Hill. "I am concerned by the rise of any group of hate, any group of hate, whether it's white supremacy, any type of supremacy, whether it's Antifa ... and I'll do something about it."
In the latest Quinnipiac University poll of the Democratic 2020 runners, Joe Biden remains out in front with 32 per cent of the vote but Elizabeth Warren has surged to 21 per cent (up five points in a month) following her impressive performance in the Florida and Michigan debates.
Bernie Sanders is in third on 14 per cent, with a three point gain.
Kamala Harris, once on 20 per cent, is down to just seven having been savaged by Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard over her record as California attorney general in that second debate.
She's still fourth though, followed by Pete Buttigieg on five per cent.
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