Trump Campaigns At Milwaukee’s Discovery World
Introduced by Tommy Thompson, then delivers speech with false claims.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at Discovery World. Photo Taken Oct. 1, 2024 by Graham Kilmer.
Former president Donald Trump stopped in Milwaukee Tuesday during a whistle stop tour of Wisconsin that included events in state’s two Democratic strongholds: Milwaukee and Dane counties.
The event, which was only open to the press, was held at Discovery World. It was organized around the issue of school choice. Milwaukee is the birthplace of school choice, with the oldest voucher program in the nation. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) moederated a panel of school choice advocates. Among them was Scarlett Johnson, of Mom’s for Liberty, former State Rep. Amy Loudenbeck and school choice advocates from the Milwaukee area.
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson spoke before Trump took the floor, telling the press gathered that he told Trump he needed to campaign in Dane and Milwaukee County.
“We just left Waunakee, it had a huge crowd, all the way from the airport to the factory, there were people standing along the road waving Trump signs in Dane County,” Thompson said. “Can you imagine how upset the Democrats are, to have that kind of a turnout in Dane County?”
During an hourlong speech that touched on many of the issues, and themes, that have dominated his campaign as of late, he attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, trotted out stories of migrant crime and depicted a country beset by lawlessness that only he can fix.
“We are a failing nation,” Trump said, “But we’re not going to be a failing nation for long.”
When Trump did touch on the marquee issue of the campaign stop, education and more specifically school choice, he reiterated his support for universal school choice and for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
“Universal school choice very important, we’re backing it all the way, 100%,” Trump said.
Milwaukee
Trump discussed Milwaukee’s education system primarily when he consulted his notes. Much of the speech appeared ad-libbed.
He referenced statistics indicating the majority of Milwaukee Public Schools students are testing below their grade level in reading and math.
“Families are faced with one of the worst public school systems in the entire country,” Trump said. “Considered pretty much the worst, but there are some others that are right there with you. I guarantee it.”
He also announced that his campaign is planning to return to the Fiserv Forum for a campaign rally. The 2024 Republican National Convention was held in the Fiserv Forum, and Trump said Tuesday, “It was beautiful. The building was beautiful.”
2024 Election
Trump said he was confident he would win Wisconsin in 2024 and also continues to sow doubt about the election results during the 2020 presidential election.
“It was a terrible thing that happened last time. If that didn’t happen, we’d have a much different country today. You’d have a much different world today… take a look at the security the security was non-existent,” he said.
Trump said there will be many people and lawyers watching the election closely this November. “I think people are gonna watch the process a lot closer.”
Elon Musk
Trump brought up one of his campaign backers, and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk several times during his speech. The former president claimed he called Musk and got him to use his satellite service, Starlink, to restore communication in areas of the nation ravaged by Hurricane Helene. The White House, on the other hand, has said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) already had plans to deploy Starlink there.
Trump also declared again that he would appoint Musk to run a government efficiency campaign to save the government “trillions.”
Musk endorsed Trump and announced earlier this year he would put as much as $180 million into a political action committee to support his campaign.
Crime and Immigration
Trump continued to invoke the specter of dangerous criminals from around the world flooding the U.S. across the southern border, attacking Harris and blaming her for it.
Trump said “murderers” and “the worst in the world” are coming to the U.S. and that other countries are emptying their jails into the United States. “These make our bad people look like innocent people,” Trump said. Trump’s claim has been fact checked and in fact, most of these criminals came over a period of years before the Biden administration took office.
Trump also blamed immigrants for unemployment among Black and Hispanic people.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits.
The media has underplayed what Trump has displayed throughout the past weeks: an increasingly feeble grip on reality and an increasingly visible weakness of being in command of his faculties. As he demonstrated in his first term as President, Trump’s tools are fear, lies, and chaos. Now, weakened by a steady diet of junk food and junk information, Trump has lost moorings from the real world, and those who stand over Trump are ready to grab the executive power of the United States. Elon Musk is among these vultures, which should be profoundly disturbing. Musk would be an unelected, unaccountable force–the wealthiest person on Earth–free to shape US policy in his image.
Around Trump, like vultures, are those who can exploit this situation and Trump’s fragile ego to put forth their ideology. The vulture-in-chief, Tommy G. Thompson, stands by the felon, sexual abuser, liar, and insurrectionist Trump. Thompson places ideology over everything–over the country, Wisconsin, representative democracy, and our city of Milwaukee, which Thompson called “the belly of the beast.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies Moms for Liberty in its Extremist Files as “a far-right organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities” as well as book banning.
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/moms-liberty
Trump answered questions from reporters, including WISN 12 News Political Director Matt Smith.
“Now they’re returning them in the mail, ballot drop boxes. For you to win, I’m curious what you tell voters who are skeptical of that process after they’ve heard you talk about fraud or one-day voting?” Smith asked.
“Well, I think people are going to watch the process a lot closer. Last time, we had COVID. People couldn’t even get out,” Trump said. “We have lots of lawyers watching. We’re doing it early rather than late. That’s why you see the lawsuits filed.”
“Do you trust the process this time around?” Smith asked.
“I’ll let you know in about 33 days,” Trump said.
(IMO) A somewhat alarming response from Trump, but I’m sure democracy loving voters don’t care.
This is The Washington Post coverage of the event: “Trump mixes up words, swerves among subjects in off-topic speech,” Story by Sabrina Rodriguez, Isaac Arnsdorf: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-mixes-up-words-swerves-among-subjects-in-off-topic-speech/ar-AA1rywko
Thank you John December for reminding us all of the obvious. Trump is a tool being used by the power hungry oligarchy to get rid of democracy.
Why has the former pres. not been fined or sued over his threatening and violent rhetoric toward the legal residents of Springfield Ohio. They have been threatened and so have their employers. Someone is going to get hurt or worse all due to his unhinged lies.
I mean, could what Trump was doing at Discovery World be construed as “campaigning” if the event was only open to the press? Basically, it was a speech in front of cameras, not even a press conference. Could have happened anywhere?
Do we know if his Dane County event had the same format?
Two points.
Urban Milwaukee readers are fortunate to have the thoughtful and well-researched comments of John December. I wish he posted more often.
Second, I thought over the years that Tommy Thompson was a pretty good and balanced governor…even though I never voted for him. What’s going on with him? I’m astonished to read the (may I say weird?) and dangerous positions he’s taking.
I am embarrassed and ashamed that the Discovery Center board allowed someone as despicable and dangerous as Trump to speak at one of Milwaukee’s most beautiful educational facilities. It is also unfortunate that Tommy Thompson has allowed his legacy to be sullied by this notorious liar.
45 47 Love TRUMP and MELANIA No more dead people voting in Wisconsin…Hopefully lmao
So sad so many brain washed Wisconsin residents with the self inflicted ” Trump Syndrome ” Truth / Really / Upsets / Many / People !!!
Trump speaking on behalf of the School Choice Movement should tell us all we need to know about the wisdom of supporting such misbegotten programs.
Public schools in Milwaukee were managed by DEI hired thieves.
I would prefer to watch a rerun of the Beverly Hillbillies, instead of listening to Trump. After all, Granny made more sense when she talked… and had better hair.
Instead of making fun of hillbillies, time to help people in North Carolina. Then again there is the issue North Carolina was home of the Confederacy. Know wonder why Biden is laying on the beach in Delaware.