Trump Will Visit Kenosha Despite Governor's Request: 'Your Presence Will Hinder Our Healing'

The White House on Sunday affirmed President Donald Trump will still visit the violence-wracked city of Kenosha on Tuesday despite an urgent request from Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers he reconsider the trip to avoid inflaming already heated tensions.

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, both Democrats, also asked Trump not to visit the city where street protests erupted on the evening of Aug. 23 after African-American Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by a white officer of the Kenosha Police Department.

Street protests and violent clashes continue as the involved officer, identified as Rusten Sheskey, hasn't been arrested or charged while Blake remains in the hospital paralyzed from the waist down.

The White House said Trump will visit Kenosha to meet with law enforcement and "survey damage from recent riots." It also said Trump looks forward to visiting and "helping this great city heal and rebuild."

Evers urged Trump to "reconsider" his visit since his presence in the community will cause problems of its own.

"I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state," wrote Evers. "I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together."

Evers said the job of elected officials is to lead by example and to calm those who are hurting and dealing with trauma. In an obvious reference to Trump, Evers said this isn't "the time for elected officials to ignore armed militants and out-of-state instigators who want to contribute to our anguish."

Evers also said Trump's presence might hinder recovery efforts since the latter's visit will "require a massive re-direction" of resources needed to keep the city safe.

On Sunday, Antaramian extended the curfew imposed on his city until after Trump's visit Tuesday. In an interview with NPR, Antaramian said it would be best Trump stayed away.

"Our preference would have been for him not to be coming at this point in time," according to Antaramian. "All presidents are always welcome and campaign issues are always going on. But it would have been, I think, better had he waited to have for another time to come."

Barnes also on Sunday voiced his opposition to Trump's visit. He tweeted that if Trump isn't coming to help the community heal, then Trump should cancel his trip.

"There is too much good starting to happen in Kenosha," said Barnes. "The city was on fire and we need healing, not a barrel of gasoline rolling in."