President Joe Biden on a visit to Milwaukee today criticized former President Donald Trump for saying immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

“Investing in Black economic prosperity lifts everybody up. You know, we always believe diversity is our strength as a nation,” Biden said. “I don’t believe as the … former president said again yesterday that immigrants are polluting — polluting — our blood.”

Meanwhile, Republicans in a virtual press briefing ahead of Biden’s visit ripped the president for the current inflation levels.

The president spoke today at the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce to highlight his economic policies and announce a Milwaukee project to revitalize its 30th Street Corridor as one of 22 finalists for a federal program designed to provide relief for economically distressed areas.

Biden touted his administration’s efforts to replace lead pipes by highlighting the work of Hero Plumbing in Milwaukee. He noted lead exposure disproportionately affects low-income communities and people of color. The president has called for the removal of all lead service lines in the country by decade’s end, while providing $15 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“This is the United States of America, for God’s sake. Everyone should be able to turn on a faucet and know whatever they’re drinking was clean and pure and not have to worry about it,” Biden said. 

Ahead of the appearance, Biden visited Hero Plumbing with owner and founder Rashawn Spivey, who spoke ahead of Biden today.

Biden also criticized U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for voting against his economic policies and calling Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.” 

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming today said Bidenomics has driven costs up by 17% since Biden took office. 

“So this is pounding everyone in society, and some could argue it’s certainly hurting some folks worse than others,” he said. “So we’re committed to being very, very active not only in the African American community, but in the Hispanic community statewide as well, because this president’s record is a disaster.”

Johnson, R-Oshkosh, also on the call blasted what he called Biden’s open border policy, saying “we have no idea who these people are.” 

Johnson rhetorically asked, “If [New York City] Mayor Eric Adams is saying 100,000 is going to destroy New York City, you know, what are a few thousand in small towns doing to those?”

Protesters criticizing the United States’ response to a rising death toll in Gaza amid Israeli air strikes gathered outside the venue where Biden spoke, according to a press pool report. The protesters were chanting “from the river to the sea,” “shame on you” and “ceasefire now” and held signs marked “#AbandonBiden.”

Gov. Tony Evers, first lady Kathy Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley greeted Biden upon his arrival at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport this morning, according to another pool report. 

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce founder Ruben Hopkins, Cavalier Johnson and Evers attended today’s event. 

Watch Biden’s remarks here. 

See a WisPolitics story on efforts to replace lead pipes in the state here.