Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Update: Wednesday, 5:05 -- Donald Trump toured the Flint water treatment plant today before meeting with small group of people at a church in the city, the Detroit News reports.
At the church, he delivered a speech to about 70 people invited to the Bethel United Methodist Church.
But when he started to bash his opponent, Hillary Clinton, the Rev. Faith Green Timmons, pastor the church, would have none of that, Chad Livengood of the News reports.
Trump tried to tie Flint’s long economic decline to trade deals supported by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, the News reports.
“Hillary failed with the economy just like she has failed on foreign policy – everything she touched didn’t work out. Nothing,” Trump said.
Rev. Timmons interrupted and said:
“Mr. Trump I invited you here … not to give a political speech."
“Oh, OK,” Trump replied. “That’s good.”
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From Earlier Today
Flint isn't exactly Donald Trump country.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, who is actually scheduled to be in Washington on Wednesday, has endorsed Hillary Clinton and made critical remarks about Trump. Other local Democratic leaders have been less than excited about a Trump presidency. And Trump has garnered little support so far from African Americans.
So, with that in mind, Trump plans to make a trip to Flint on Wednesday in what appears to be part of his effort to reach out to minorities.
As part of the trip, Trump planned to tour the Flint water plant.
But Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press reports that Mayor Weaver discouraged that plan, saying Trump had never contacted her about the tour.
"Flint is focused on fixing the problems caused by lead contamination of our drinking water, not photo ops," she said in a statement Tuesday evening, Gray reports. The mayor said employees and staff at the water plant "cannot afford the disruption of a last-minute visit."
So, it wasn't clear Tuesday night if the tour of the water plant would happen.
The Freep notes that Trump disclosed his plans to visit Flint during his trip to Great Faith Ministries International, a predominately African-American church on Grand River Avenue on Detroit’s west side.
State Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich, who represents Flint, issued a statement Tuesday:
“Make no mistake: Donald Trump has a spent lifetime only caring about himself. Hillary Clinton has spent her entire life working for children and families and is the only candidate who is looking out for the best interests of Flint,” said Senator Ananich.
“Donald Trump has been completely absent since the Flint water crisis happened. Even worse, Trump’s approach of running government like a business is the same failed approach that led to the Flint water crisis in the first place. After first refusing to even comment on Flint when the crisis broke -- and doing nothing for Flint families since then -- Trump now wants to fly into Flint for a photo-op.”
