Democrats Express Concerns Over Trump's Wisconsin Visit, Doubt Strife Might Worsen With His Arrival

U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plans to visit Wisconsin on Tuesday later last week. But, the unlikely timing of the president’s visit to the Midwestern city has sparked concerns, as Democrats are of the opinion that the leader’s arrival may “fan the flames” in the ongoing racial protests.

In a statement released on Sunday, political rival Joe Biden criticized Trump of being horrifically insensitive and “recklessly encouraging violence.”

“He may believe tweeting about law and order makes him strong -- but his failure to call on his supporters to stop seeking conflict shows just how weak he is. He may think that war in our streets is good for his re-election chances, but that is not presidential leadership – or even basic human compassion,” said the presidential candidate in the statement, echoing the opinions of Trump’s critics who believe the President’s visit will “exacerbate violence with incendiary rhetoric.”

Wisconsin has been plunged in turmoil, even since the shooting of a Black man in broad daylight in Kenosha, city south of Milwaukee -- in what seems like another act of police brutality and racial attack – surfaced online, and sparked nationwide strife and outrage. The victim, Jacob Blake, was repeatedly shot in the back by a white cop in the presence of Blake’s kids.

U.S. Representative Karen Bass, a Democrat who helms the Congressional Black Caucus sided with Biden’s stance, and suggested that the President’s visit could aggravate tensions. “His visit has one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to agitate things,” said Bass to CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“We’re 66 days from an election and I think it’s a tragedy that we have a president that is doing everything he can to fan the flames,” she added.

The violence meted out against Blake gave rise to a series of untoward incidents as an aftermath of sorts. One such flashpoint occurred in Portland, Oregon, where life was claimed on Saturday after what witnesses claim the incident to be a consequence of a confrontation with the protestors by Trump’s supporters.

Another instance of shooting was recorded, where Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old White boy gunned down two protestors and seriously injured one, with a semi-automatic rifle. The minor suspect has been charged with first-degree homicide, in connection with the incident and six criminal counts.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf refuted speculations that Trump's social media posts were aggravating tensions.