Trump heads to Dallas to talk race relations, policing; Democrats react to his visit
President Donald Trump is expected to detail his plan for “holistic revitalization and recovery” during a roundtable Thursday at a Dallas church.
He will meet with police, faith leaders and small business owners to “show unity” and provide solutions as they talk about topics including race relations and policing, senior administration officials with the White House said Thursday morning.
But several black Dallas officials were not invited, including Police Chief Reneé Hall, Sheriff Marian Brown and District Attorney John Creuzot, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The president is expected to detail policy solutions that can address disparities. He is also expected to talk about recovery for small businesses stalled by coronavirus closures and discuss “ways to modernize police in the 21st century with reforms,” the official said.
“Today is going to be historic,” the official said.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden disagreed.
“President Trump is more interested in photo-ops than offering a healing voice as our nation mourns,” he said in a statement released before the president arrived in Dallas.
Trump is expected to meet Thursday afternoon at Gateway Church’s campus in North Dallas, hours before he heads to a private fundraiser. Gateway is led by senior pastor Robert Morris, one of Trump’s religious advisers.
Trump will be joined by Morris and Dr. Robin Armstrong of Texas City; Jack Brewer, a former NFL player; Glenn Heights Police Chief Vernell Dooley; Surgeon General Jerome Adams; Attorney General William Barr; White House Advisor JaRon Smith; Bishop Harry Jackson; and White House official Scott Turner.
This visit comes days after the Houston funeral for George Floyd, who died in the custody of Minneapolis police after an officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes. His death has sparked protests against police brutality and racism locally and across the country.
Response to Trump’s visit
Biden’s statement said country has watched Trump “botch the response to COVID-19 and the economic crisis that has followed.”
“Texas is now facing a massive surge in positive COVID-19 cases, with the number hospitalizations hitting an all-time high,” Biden’s statement said. “The country, and Texas, are facing multiple crises — yet President Trump continues to demonstrate that he’s not the right leader to address any of them.”
Biden went on to point out that nearly 3 million Texans filed for unemployment and more than 1,800 Texans have died from COVID-19. And Thursday’s visit comes as people across the country continue the protests that started after Floyd’s death.
“Today’s trip to Texas won’t change any of that,” Biden said.
Texas Democrats also hosted a conference call before the president’s visit.
U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth and Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas, along with Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto HInojosa, talked about the president and said he has failed in leading Texas and the country at a time of “social unrest, economic calamity and a pandemic that shows no signs of receding.”
They criticized his response to coronavirus and high unemployment rates within communities of color.
“It’s clear we need a new leader,” Veasey said.
Fundraiser
Trump already had planned to be in Dallas Thursday night for a fundraiser that includes a crowd of about 25 people and is expected to raise at least $10 million.
Requirements for each person attending that event is that they test negative for coronavirus, pass a temperature screening and complete a wellness questionnaire. The cost is a minimum of $580,000 per couple. That covers two meals and a photo with the president, according to the invitation.
The Trump Victory campaign is covering the cost of the COVID-19 tests.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 10:15 AM.
