In response to an alleged disparaging comment made by former President Donald Trump about the city of Milwaukee, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has announced plans to run a billboard campaign across the city. The comment in question was reportedly made during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Thursday.

According to sources from Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman and CNN, Trump referred to Milwaukee as a "horrible city" during the meeting. However, Trump, his 2024 campaign team, and other Republicans have strongly denied these claims, stating that the former president was actually referencing the city's crime rate.

Nevertheless, the DNC has decided to use these alleged remarks from Trump as a focal point in their billboard campaign. Ten billboards will be strategically placed across Milwaukee, intended to remind voters of the "contempt" that Trump is said to have for the city.

The significance of this campaign lies in the fact that Wisconsin is considered a critical swing state, which adds to the importance of Milwaukee as its largest city. In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden narrowly defeated Trump in Wisconsin by only 20,000 votes. Recent polls have indicated a neck-and-neck race between the two candidates with less than five months remaining until the 2024 election.

Interestingly, Trump made his first visit to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., since the January 6, 2021, riot on the same day that the alleged comment about Milwaukee was reported. A spokesperson for Trump's campaign dismissed the authenticity of the report, citing that the former president was addressing concerns about election fraud and crime in the city.

The DNC's decision to display the alleged comment comes just before Trump's upcoming visit to Wisconsin for a campaign rally next week. DNC spokesperson Addy Toevs stated, "The dislike is mutual – in 2020, Wisconsin sent Trump packing and elected President Biden. In November, they'll do it again."

President Biden and his Democratic allies wasted no time in seizing upon the alleged remark. In a social media post, Biden expressed his love for Milwaukee, while Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers added the alleged comment to "the list of things Donald Trump is wrong about."

On the other hand, several Republican figures have either denied that Trump made the remark or clarified that he was referring to the city's crime rate. Trump himself addressed the issue, stating that he loves Milwaukee but was pointing out the city's high crime numbers. He also suggested that the alleged comment was a "fake story."

The DNC confirmed the locations of the ten billboards in Milwaukee, strategically placing them to attract maximum attention. While opinions on Trump's alleged remark may differ, it is clear that the DNC is hoping to leverage the incident to rally support against the former president.

Milwaukee, set to host the Republican National Convention in July, will provide a platform for Trump, who is expected to be confirmed as the GOP's 2024 nominee. In addition, on June 18, Trump is scheduled to appear at a campaign event in Racine, Wisconsin.

As the billboard campaign commences, the alleged disparagement of Milwaukee by Trump continues to fuel the political dialogue surrounding the upcoming election. It remains to be seen how this latest development will impact the race in Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state.