MANKATO, Minn. (AP) – As Democrats kicked off their first ever virtual national convention amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump visited Midwest battleground states, in Milwaukee, the official host state for the DNC.
Trump served up a law and order message to counter former Vice President Joe Biden’s show at the convention.
Trump also visited Minnesota where Trump called Biden a “puppet of left-wing extremists.”
In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the president declared that the coronavirus outbreak makes another victory in Wisconsin more difficult but claims “we handled it.”
WATCH: President Trump in Mankato, MN #Minnesota
Text TRUMP to 88022 https://t.co/SpTtIZDxm4
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 17, 2020
Meantime, the first night of the convention was filled with heavy hitter speakers including former first lady Michelle Obama who didn’t mince words about Trump saying, “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can; and they will.” The former first lady issued a blunt and emotional appeal that capped the first night of the convention Monday. Mrs. Obama declared President Donald Trump to be “in over his head” and the “wrong president for our country.” She says, “Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation, or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy.”
If we want to end the chaos and division—and keep alive the possibility of progress on the issues we hold dear—we’ve got to vote for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris like our lives depend on it. Register today by texting VOTE to 30330. https://t.co/xPu5o0SYLJ
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 18, 2020
Other speakers included former presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders who appealed to his legion of supporters to vote for Biden.
Sen. Bernie Sanders at the #DemConvention: "To everyone who supported other candidates in the primary, and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: the future of our democracy is at stake." https://t.co/sPgqNrbFhc pic.twitter.com/uObgDgOqyL
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 18, 2020
Several Republicans also voiced support for Biden, including former Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the #DemConvention: “We’re being taken down the wrong road by a president who has pitted one against the other.”
“I’m a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country.” https://t.co/ox37AApufY pic.twitter.com/TaWoUDzqAb
— ABC News (@ABC) August 18, 2020
Former candidates Andrew Yang and Senator Amy Klobachar also spoke.
During a segment highlighting criminal justice, the brothers of George Floyd also spoke.
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the Associate Press)
