KENOSHA — President Donald Trump is visiting Kenosha on Tuesday, more than a week after Jacob Blake was shot and seriously injured by a Kenosha police officer.
Since Blake was shot, protests and unrest have broken out across Kenosha. Wisconsin National Guard troops were called to the city to help protect buildings and even President Trump sent troops to help.
The president spoke with law enforcement and surveyed the damage done during the unrest.
Trump said he would meet Jacob Blake’s family pastor while he’s in Kenosha. Yesterday, Blake’s father told CNN that the family does not have a pastor, but multiple administration officials have said that the White House has been in contact with Blake’s mother’s pastor.
“I’m going to meet him in a little while. He represents the family. And I think it’s probably better off if it’s handled locally right now,” Trump said. “It’s under investigation as you know, so I think it’s much better – I actually suggested we handle it locally.” It’s not clear if the President is referring to the meeting with Blake family representatives.
“I was going to speak to the mother yesterday,” Trump said, referring to Blake’s mother. “I hear she’s a very fine woman, I was going to speak to her, but then I hear there are a lot of lawyers on the phone, but I said I have enough lawyers in my life.”
Trump said he looks “forward to” meeting with the pastor.
“This is going to heal very quickly,” Trump said, of the overall situation in Kenosha. “We’re going to help them from an economic standpoint.” The President continued speaking, but the rest of his comments were cut out due to signal issues.
After the announcement of the president's visit, Governor Tony Evers wrote a letter to the president asking him to reconsider his visit.
"I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing," wrote the governor. "An in-person visit from you will require a massive re-direction of these resources to support your visit at a time when it is critical that we continue to remain focused on keeping the people of Kenosha safe and supporting the community’s response."
Other Democrats in Wisconsin agreed with the governor saying the president should hold off on visiting the Wisconsin city.
