Accompanied by protests, US President Donald Trump visited the city of El Paso, Texas, where a suspected racist attacker killed 22 people on Saturday.
Trump spent about one and a half hours in a hospital yesterday, where he met employees and injured people. Afterwards he met police officers in the emergency command center.
Residents of the city on the border with Mexico protested Trump’s visit. They presented themselves with posters with inscriptions like „Go home. You are NOT welcome here „and“ Trump’s hatred and racism are not welcome here „on the roadside.
The US president had previously visited the city of Dayton, Ohio, where a 24-year-old had shot and killed nine people 13 hours after the El Paso attack. There, too, there were protests against Trump’s visit.
Racism debate rekindled
The two firearms attacks have fueled the racism debate around Trump again. After the attacks, the president had unusually clearly condemned racism and the ideology of white supremacy. However, critics accuse him of inciting racism and violence even with his aggressive rhetoric.
Trump in turn endeavored to portray the visit to the two cities as a success. He had an „incredible day,“ the president said at the end of the journey, which kept journalists out of the way most of the time. He had experienced „love, respect for the office of President“. His social media director Dan Scavino even wrote on Twitter that Trump had been received as a „rock star“ at the Dayton hospital.
Leaving El Paso for the White House. What GREAT people I met there in Dayton, Ohio. The Fake News worked overtime trying to disperage me and the two trips, but it just did not work. The love, respect & enthusiasm were there for all to see. They have been through so much. Sad!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2019
Trump accused the media on Twitter of trying to „discredit“ him and his visits. „That did not work.“ The President again referred to the media as „Fake News“.
