President Donald Trump spent a busy Tuesday afternoon and evening in southeastern Wisconsin.
Just minutes after Air Force One landed at the 128th Air Refueling Wing, he gave a short speech on the tarmac about health care. Trump kept up the pressure on Congress to approve a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
"Obamacare is one of the greatest catastrophes that our country has signed into law, and the victims are innocent, hard-working Americans."
Although the president has not been able to sign a new, sweeping health care package into law as soon as he wished, he's holding out hope the time will come soon. He says he expects the U.S. Senate to approve a "really good" solution in the near future.
After the president's health care remarks, he continued his whirlwind trip by visiting Waukesha County Technical College. There, he promoted apprenticeships, alongside Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
Later, the two headed to a big fundraiser in downtown Milwaukee for Walker, where guests paid up to $20,000 for a ticket.
Dozens of protesters gathered across from the Hyatt Regency ahead of that fundraiser. Andy Hope says he has several beefs with the president.
“He’s a prolific liar, he doesn’t understand what conflict of interest is, he’s a Republican and they’re the class warfare party in my opinion, look at Walker,” Hope says.
Hope credits Trump for taking the time to promote apprenticeship programs – he did so earlier in the afternoon at Waukesha County Technical College. But, Hope says he is still taking a wait and see attitude.
“If he’s promoting ways for people to get skills without people going deeply in debt, you people that is, that’s a good thing. I’m inclined to doubt his sincerity but we’ll see,” Hope says.
Another protester is Jamal Johnson. He says he’s trying to support his family, by working a couple minimum wage jobs. Johnson says he’d like Trump to advocate for better working conditions.
“Equal pay, people are working hard, working overtime and being away from family. I know people who work three jobs and they are away from their kids. That breaks down the home,” Johnson says.
One issue on Karen Royster’s mind: health care. She says she opposes a bill working its way through Congress that would replace President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
“I have several pre-existing conditions and if they take those protections away, I won’t be able to afford basic care. It cuts pretty deep,” Royster says.
Cathy Kaye says she fears Trump is going to destroy the environment. She’s especially upset that the president pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord.
“I’m concerned that we are very close to a tipping point as far as global warming and once we move over that edge, it may be impossible to restore our planet’s health,” Kaye says.
In addition, Kaye says she’s concerned about the president’s immigration strategy. She applauds yet another court ruling this week that rejected Trump’s travel ban on people from certain Muslim countries.
