In a surprising turn of events, US Democrats have seized on former President Donald Trump's disparaging comment about Milwaukee, calling it "a horrible city," by prominently displaying the unflattering description on billboards across the city. This campaign comes just a month before the Republican national convention is set to take place in Milwaukee, a strategic move by the party to secure votes in the swing state of Wisconsin for the upcoming presidential election in November.

According to reports, Trump made the comment during a meeting with congressional Republicans in Washington, his first visit to Capitol Hill since the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6th. This remark drew immediate condemnation from Democrats, who recognized an opportunity to highlight Trump's apparent disdain for the city chosen to host the Republican convention.

Realizing the potential damage caused by the comment, Republican party figures initially denied that Trump had made such a remark. However, as the backlash intensified, they attempted to contextualize the comment to mitigate its impact. Unfortunately for them, the Democratic election machine wasted no time in commissioning billboards throughout Milwaukee to amplify the message. One billboard prominently featured Trump's picture alongside the initial tweet breaking the story, while another displayed the damning quote against a red background. A total of ten billboards are planned to be strategically placed throughout the city in the lead-up to the convention to maximize their effect.

The reaction from Milwaukee's mayor, Cavalier Johnson, was swift and scathing. Johnson pointed out the irony of Trump insulting the largest city in Wisconsin, a state he is eager to win, and which is hosting the Republican convention. He described Trump's comment as "bizarre" and "unhinged." Democratic National Committee spokesman Addy Toevs echoed these sentiments, stating that Trump's contempt for Wisconsinites and their home was evident, and emphasized that Wisconsin had delivered a decisive blow to Trump's presidency in the 2020 election.

Both Republicans and Democrats have identified Wisconsin as a crucial state in the upcoming November election. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state by a narrow margin of approximately 21,000 votes, while Trump challenged the vote tallies in his efforts to overturn the outcome. The city of Milwaukee, located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, has historically been a strong Democratic stronghold and has a diverse population, with significant African American and Hispanic communities.

In response to the widespread coverage of Trump's comment, a Trump campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, dismissed the reporting as "total bullshit," claiming that Trump had been referring to crime and election issues rather than the city itself.

With tensions mounting and the presidential race heating up, the fallout from Trump's negative remark about Milwaukee adds another layer of contention as both parties scramble to secure vital votes in this crucial swing state.

In the coming weeks, as the billboards continue to punctuate the cityscape, the impact of Trump's comment on Milwaukee and its potential influence on the 2024 election outcome remains to be seen.