Protesters greet Trump in Baltimore after tweets from his explosive city

BALTIMORE (Reuters) – Dozens of protesters gathered in downtown Baltimore on Thursday, as President Donald Trump made his first visit to the city since July, calling it "disgusting" and "infested with rodents ".

Trump delivered a speech to Republicans in the House of Representatives during his annual retreat in the predominantly black city, after protesters greeted his motorcade with signs depicting Trump as a rat and asking him to return to the swamp. .

The reception is done coldly after Trump attacked Twitter on Elijah Cummings, a prominent member of the Baltimore African-American Congress, calling him a "brutal tyrant" who should focus on cleaning up his district. "disgusting, infested with rats and rodents" rather than criticize the work of US immigration officers at the Mexican border.

Cummings, who chairs the House Committee on Monitoring and Reform, has investigated Trump and his administration. He was described as racist and criticized the president's rigorous immigration policies.

The powerful congressman responded to Trump's tweets by inviting him to visit the city and observe the hard-working locals.

Baltimore, a city of about 625,000 inhabitants known for its scenic harbor and high crime rate, is located about 65 km north of Washington, DC.

Relative to the reception on the streets, Trump was warmly greeted with "four more years" songs as he spoke at dinner after a brief speech by Republican minority House leader McCarthy Kevin McCarthy , and the minority whip, Steve Scalise.

Highlighting his achievements as president and ripping apart Democratic presidential candidates in addition to an hour of various comments, Trump also escaped from a coup against city leaders welcoming him.

"We will fight for the future of cities like Baltimore, which have been destroyed by decades of failed and corrupt regimes," he said with thunderous applause.

His speech was in competition with a Democratic presidential debate that began almost simultaneously in Houston.

The elections will be held in November 2020. Trump hopes to survive well thanks to the strong tax cuts voted in 2017, to an uncompromising stance on immigration and to an aggressive approach from China, as well as to the rule of thumb. to a conflicting rhetoric that seduces some of its supporters.

By the time Trump's motorcade arrived in Baltimore, a sign saying "Dump Trump, Ditch Mitch" was referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. At least one sign favorable to Trump in 2020 has been seen.