FLINT, Mich. – Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump took a visit to Flint Wednesday, and it took an awkward turn.
Trump isn't known for backing down or taking a back seat, but on Wednesday, he did so in a bizarre turn of events. The pastor of the church that allowed Trump to visit stepped in and took control.
Trump returned to Michigan hoping he could repeat the success that he had in Detroit a few weeks ago. But he was having a hard time finding a place where he could go and discuss his platform.
While he was talking about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during his speech, Trump was interrupted by the pastor of the church who allowed him to come and speak. He was asked to stop mid-sentence when the pastor said his comments were outside the scope of their agreement.
But just as protesters of Trump's campaign waited outside the church, he found himself heckled inside. The pastor stepped in once again to take care of the heckler.
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Trump wrapped up his appearance and called it "an honor." But he left as quickly as he came.
"While we were in the middle of our controversy, where was Donald Trump?" asked protester Gerald Montgomery. "How many times have you heard of Donald Trump sending water to Flint to support our community."
It might not seem like Trump got a warm welcome during his visit, but there were plenty of supporters of his campaign among the protesters.
"(I've been a) huge supporter (of Trump), right from the get-go," Jim Hunsanger said. "America does need to get on the right track again. Militarily, we're weak again."
Trump's question to African-Americans, asking, "What do you have to lose?" gave some people reason to at least listen to what he had to say.
"I have a lot to lose," said Curtis Wesley. "That's why I need to know what his policies are, his plan, how he's going to activate that plan. It's been ran by Democrats, but it has not been ran well."
Trump arrived around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, about two hours later than expected. He left before 4:30, so it was a quick turnaround.
He's back on the campaign trail Wednesday night.
Flint mayor says Trump's campaign never reached out
"Flint is focused on fixing the problems caused by lead contamination of our drinking water, not photo ops," Mayor Karen Weaver said in a statement Tuesday night.
Weaver said neither Donald Trump nor any staff members from the Trump campaign have ever reached out to her since the Flint water crisis was officially recognized as an emergency in December 2015, and he never let her know that he was coming to the city this week. The mayor also said city of Flint employees and the staff at the Flint Water Plant are focused on dealing with the continued contamination in the drinking water, and cannot afford the disruption of a last-minute visit.
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