Protesters greet Trump in Baltimore after his tweets blasting city
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[September 13, 2019]
By Alexandra Alper
BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Dozens of protesters
gathered in downtown Baltimore on Thursday as President Donald Trump
made his first visit to the city since he blasted it as "disgusting" and
"rodent-infested" in hotly debated tweets in July.
Trump gave a speech to Republicans from the House of Representatives
holding an annual retreat in the predominantly black city, after
protesters greeted his motorcade with signs depicting Trump as a rat and
telling him to return to the swamp.
The chilly reception came after Trump lashed out on Twitter at Elijah
Cummings, a prominent African-American congressman from Baltimore,
calling him a "brutal bully" who should concentrate on cleaning up his
"disgusting, rat and rodent infested" district rather than criticizing
the work of U.S. immigration officers on the Mexican border.
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Cummings, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, has
led investigations into Trump and his administration, called him a
racist and lashed out at the president's hard-line immigration policies.
The powerful congressman responded to Trump's tweets by inviting him to
tour the city and observe hardworking residents.
Baltimore, a city of about 625,000 people known for its scenic harbor
and high crime rates, is roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of
Washington, D.C.
Compared with the reception on the streets, Trump was received warmly
with chants of "four more years," as he took the stage at the dinner
after brief remarks from House Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy
and Minority Whip Steve Scalise.
Touting his achievements as president and ripping Democratic
presidential hopefuls in more than an hour of wide-ranging comments,
Trump also slipped in one jab against the leaders of the city hosting
him.
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![](../images/091319pics/news_e9.jpg)
Protesters react as the motorcade carrying U.S. President Donald
Trump arrives in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., September 12, 2019.
REUTERS/Leah Millis
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"We are going to fight for the futures of cities like Baltimore that
have been destroyed by decades of failed and corrupt rule," he said,
to loud applause.
His speech competed for air time with a Democratic presidential
debate that started almost simultaneously in Houston.
The election will be in November 2020. Trump hopes to run on by
steep tax cuts passed in 2017, a hardline stance on immigration and
an aggressive approach to China, as well as divisive rhetoric that
appeals to some supporters.
As Trump's motorcade rolled into Baltimore, it passed one sign
reading "Dump Trump, Ditch Mitch," referring to Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell. At least one sign favoring Trump in 2020 was
seen.
(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Additional Reporting by Leah Millis;
Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Richard Borsuk)
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