Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump ally, responded to criticism regarding former President Donald Trump's campaign event in Howell, Michigan, following a White supremacist march in the area. Donalds dismissed the demonstrations as 'distasteful' and emphasized that his brother-in-law, who resides in Howell, is not associated with neo-Nazis but is simply a hardworking individual.
Senior Trump campaign adviser Brian Hughes pointed out that President Joe Biden also visited Howell in 2021 and suggested that Democrats should face scrutiny for holding their convention in Chicago.
During his upcoming remarks in Michigan, Trump plans to focus on crime and safety, while his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will engage with law enforcement in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Donalds criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on the issue of increased murder rates in major American cities since 2019. He acknowledged a recent decrease in crime rates but attributed it to a reduction from the high levels during the Biden-Harris administration.
When questioned about Trump's previous statements, including using military forces to combat crime in American cities, Donalds downplayed the notion that Trump intends to implement such measures, stating that rally speeches do not equate to official public policy.