Trump says he was ‘always planning on staying’ in Milwaukee for RNC as campaign denies report he eyed Chicago hotel

Donald Trump says he was “always planning on staying” in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention despite reports he eyed a Chicago hotel 95 miles away.

In alocal television interview, Trump said he never wavered on plans to stay in the RNC host city for the July event. He made his comments as he prepared to take the stage in Racine, Wisconsin, on Tuesday for his first visit to the state after he reportedly called Milwaukee a “horrible city.” On stage, Trump declared he “loves” Milwaukee, as reports began to emerge he planned to stay in Chicago during the convention.

ABC7 Chicago and The New York Times both reported Trump planned to undertake the commute from the Windy City to the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee rather than stay nearby. The presumed Republican presidential nominee owns the Trump International Hotel in downtown Chicago.

Three separate sources spoke to ABC7 about the plans for the 2024 convention, including a high-ranking law enforcement officer, but the Trump campaign denied the report.

Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the campaign, told the network: “The president is planning to stay in Milwaukee for the Convention.”

Three people briefed on Trump’s travel logistics around the July convention dates also told the Times the same story.

When reporters from both the paper and ABC began asking questions on Tuesday, those plans changed two of the people said.

“Mr Trump now intends to stay in Milwaukee, two of the people briefed on his logistics said,” reported the Times. “The change avoids a perceived slight to the largest city in Wisconsin, a vital battleground state.”

When Trump spoke in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Tuesday in Racine — which sits on Lake Michigan between the two cities —