Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said on Tuesday she plans to tell President Donald Trump when he visits the city on Wednesday "how unhelpful he's been" with his remarks about ways to combat gun violence following the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, ABC News reported.
Whaley, a Democrat, deflected when asked if she thought Trump was coming to visit too soon after the massacre.
"He's the president of the United States,” she said. “He does his calendar, I do mine."
But when asked if enough is being done to counter gun violence, the Dayton mayor responded adamantly, saying "absolutely not. What do you see in D.C.? You see a lot of nothing happening on a lot of stuff. Common sense gun reform is definitely an example where nothing's happened."
Whaley said she will "absolutely" tell Trump she does not think he has helped the push for reform that can bring about stronger gun control legislation.
In Texas, there are similar sentiments. Despite being a Republican, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo sounded less than enthusiastic about Trump’s upcoming visit, The Hill reported.
“He is the president of the United States,” he said. “In that capacity, I will fulfill my obligations as mayor of El Paso to meet with the president and discuss whatever our needs are in this community.”
Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes the Walmart where the mass shooting took place, told MSNBC that Trump “is not welcome” in El Paso while its residents are mourning.
She said that words have consequences, citing Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward migrants that is a prominent feature on his Twitter account and at campaign rallies.
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