Trump Blasts Dayton Mayor, Ohio Senator On Twitter

DAYTON, OH — President Donald Trump lashed out at Mayor Nan Whaley and Senator Sherrod Brown after visiting with first responders and victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Dayton, which left 10 people dead, including the shooter.

The president's controversial visit to Dayton followed attacks in the city's Oregon District on early August 4. A gunman clad in body armor opened fire outside a bar killing nine people and wounding 27 others. Police shot and killed the gunman about a minute after the attack started.Trump was in town visiting the victims of the shooting and first responders.

Trump's visit was marked by protests throughout Dayton, including outside Miami Hospital. He did not visit the Oregon District where the shootings took place.

Many politicians, including Brown, have blamed the president's vitriolic rhetoric for contributing to an increasingly violent and polarized American climate. While calling for unity on Wednesday, Trump continued to lambaste his critics, focusing on Brown and Whaley, who held a press conference urging the president to take action on gun control.

Side-by-side, surrounded by reporters, Whaley said she spoke with Trump and his chief of staff about improving gun restrictions, and Brown said he asked the president to help pass background check legislation that has already passed the U.S. House. Both scolded the president for not taking further action to prevent mass shootings.

"We can't get anything done on guns because the president and Mitch McConnell are in bed with the NRA," Brown said.

In a pair of Tweets sent out while Trump was en route to El Paso, Texas to meet with victims of a mass shooting there, the president said:

"Just left Dayton, Ohio, where I met with the Victims & families, Law Enforcement, Medical Staff & First Responders. It was a warm & wonderful visit. Tremendous enthusiasm & even Love. Then I saw failed Presidential Candidate (0%) Sherrod Brown & Mayor Whaley totally misrepresenting what took place inside of the hospital. Their news conference after I left for El Paso was a fraud. It bore no resemblance to what took place with those incredible people that I was so lucky to meet and spend time with. They were all amazing!"

However, when asked specifically how the president was welcomed at the hospital, Brown said he was comforting and did all the right things. He did add that all of the patients showed the president respect, though a few pulled the senator aside to tell him they were not supporters of Trump. Whaley said the victims and first responders were grateful the president visited Dayton.

Video of the entire press conference is below.