President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will travel to Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas on Wednesday. They will pay their respects to victims of two separate mass shootings that occurred over the weekend. He will visit Dayton in the morning and El Paso in the afternoon.
At the White House Monday, President Trump gave an address to the nation and demanded the death penalty be swiftly executed against mass shooters, especially if their murders are amplified by a hate crime.
"These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities, an attack on our nation and a crime against all humanity. We are outraged by this monstrous evil, the cruelty, the malice, bloodshed and the terror. Our hearts are shattered for every family whose parents, children, husbands and wives were ripped from their arms and their lives. America weeps for the fallen. We are a loving nation and our children are entitled to grow up in a just, peaceful and loving society," Trump said. "Together we lock arms to shoulder the grief. We ask God in heaven to ease the anguish of those who suffer and we vow to act with urgent resolve."
Today, I am also directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the DEATH PENALTY - and that this capital punishment be delivered quickly, decisively, and without years of needless delay. pic.twitter.com/BDXdpelK7F
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
The left is turning his visits into opportunities for protest. The mayor of Dayton is openly and harshly criticizing President Trump. She's also rejecting his calls for unity.
"I'm disappointed in his remarks," Dayton, Ohio's mayor said of Trump's address after a weekend of mass shootings.
— POLITICO (@politico) August 6, 2019
"Watching the president over the past few years on the issues of guns..I don't know if he knows what he believes," she continued, adding that his words "fell short" pic.twitter.com/biB8xpraQy
El Paso's mayor has been far more gracious and looks forward to working with the federal government.
JUST IN: El Paso mayor says Pres. Trump will visit the city on Wednesday following this weekend's mass shooting.
— ABC News (@ABC) August 5, 2019
"I will ask President Trump to support our efforts with any and all federal resources that are available." https://t.co/G8DBIKVmn1 pic.twitter.com/xwJS0iTwZt