Press Release
Kenosha business owner declines President Trump photo-op as Trump again fails to bring community together and meet the moment
(Wisconsin) — During his divisive visit to Kenosha, Donald Trump proved what Wisconsinites knew all along — that he once again could not meet the moment the Kenosha community needs to heal.
Key Points Below:
TMJ4: Kenosha business owner declines President Trump photo-op, former owner replaces him
- A Kenosha business owner is accusing President Donald Trump of using his destroyed store for political gain.
- Tom Gram’s century-old camera shop burned to the ground a week ago during the unrest in Uptown Kenosha. Gram said he declined President Trump’s request to be a part of his tour of damage Tuesday in Kenosha. Instead, a former owner of the shop was invited and he praised the president’s efforts.
- Gram said he got a call Monday from the White House asking if he’d join the president on a tour that would showcase his leveled business, but Gram immediately refused.
- “I think everything he does turns into a circus and I just didn’t want to be involved in it,” Gram said.
- To Gram’s surprise, he watched on TV as the president showed up with the store’s former owner and President Trump made it seem like the store was still his.
- Rode does not own Rode’s Camera Shop. However, he does own the property, located at 2204 Roosevelt Road in Kenosha, the site of Rode’s Camera Shop.
- Gram said President Trump’s references to John Rode III as the owner of Rode’s Camera Shop and it being “his store” were deceptive. Gram says he is disappointed Rode III’s comments Tuesday were construed to reflect the views of current ownership.
- “I think he needs to bring this country together rather than divide it,” Gram said.
- “I think there’s a lot of good people in this community and to say that only law enforcement is correct is not the message we need to hear right now,” Gram said.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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