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Kenosha, Wisconsin has had further protests and rioting in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake by law enforcement. The shooting comes during a nationwide movement protesting police brutality and racial bias.
In the midst of civil unrest, President Donald Trump decided to visit Kenosha despite requests from Mayor John Antaramian to hold off until a less turbulent time.
Kenosha small business Rode's Camera Shop has been owned by Tom Gram the past eight years after forty years of working at the shop as an employee. Last week during the discord Rode's Camera Shop burnt down.
Trump reached out to Gram inviting him to participate in a photo op at his former business site.
Gram declined the invitation from Trump saying:
"Everything he does turns into a circus and I just didn't want to be involved in it."
Despite this denial, Trump arrived at the remainder of the former business with the previous owner John Rode III, making it appear as if Rode still owned the business.
The video below shows Rode holding an old Rode's print while the President addressed the camera.
During the visit the former owner made pro-Trump comments in front of the camera after prompting from Trump.
Rode said:
"I just appreciate President Trump coming today, everybody here does."
"We're so thankful we got the federal troops here. Once they got here things did calm down quite a bit."
The President used this to segue into his own self-flattery by making a false claim.
“A day earlier would have saved his store."
Gram expressed disappointment in the President and Rode for the misleading photo op after his refusal, adding Trump needs to "bring this country together rather than divide it." He wasn't the only one upset by the President's decision to use the remains of Gram's business for his own self-promotion.
Twitter users blasted the President for the staged photo op with a person who doesn't own the business they exploited.
The owner of an old Kenosha camera shop refused to pose with Trump, saying Trump was using him and his shop for political gain. So Trump had the former owner of the shop pretend to be the current owner for a photo op. https://t.co/VYm8ij2tfL
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) September 2, 2020
Why is it that whenever I think this man can't shock me anymore, he still somehow manages to do something so absolutely unnecessarily terrible that I am shocked again! pic.twitter.com/TIm16bVBQ2
— The Honorable Jaja Dingdong 🌋🤍💥🥂🎹👶🏻 (@iLOVEnewyork83) September 2, 2020
Isn't Trump's entire presidency one long photo op? He doesn't care about anything other than the optics of things. Only making money for himself and his donors. Certainly doesn't care about policy details or interested in running the federal government..
— Nasty Woman Voter (@JayashreeNara14) September 2, 2020
Many felt his fake photo op—after speaking out against fake news—was highly hypocritical.
This guy rails nonstop about FAKE NEWS. Obviously, Donald Trump knows a heckuva lot about that topic. We know that as projecting. Everything in Trump's world is a photo op, a chance to insert himself into real or created situations, his craven quest for attention and publicity.
— Sharon M💐 (@Godmaid27Sharon) September 2, 2020
And he has the constant audacity to complain about fake news.
Its truly the Hypocrisy Party.
— Al Prior (@AlrantAl) September 2, 2020
Trump is still trying to deceive the American People, even in the middle of a disaster, with Americans suffering! We applaud the OWNER of the destroyed business for refusing to be photographed with Trump! Staffers found the FORMER OWNER of the business, who Trump USED in photo! pic.twitter.com/VhoJe8Gcz4
— WHSCI (@WHSCI) September 2, 2020
Other users compared the President's manipulation to something more Orwellian.
This is 1984 Ministry of Truth-type stuff.
— Der Gadfly (@GadflyDer) September 2, 2020
pic.twitter.com/DvQfCtZzLZ
— Lover of Nature 🇸🇪🖖 (@grnbrggrn) September 2, 2020
Conversely, Twitter users praised Gram for adhering to his principles with his refusal to participate.
Congratulations to the Kenosha business shop owner who refused Trump's attempt to exploit him. At least he has some principles!
— Kathleen Sloan (@KathleenSloan17) September 2, 2020
Respect tp the owner who kept his dignity.
— Jamie B (@jambie61) September 2, 2020
Gram commented:
“I think there's a lot of good people in this community and to say that only law enforcement is correct is not the message we need to hear right now."
May everyone stay safe, stay informed and may justice be served and healing found for all victims, including Jacob Blake and Tom Gram.