President Donald Trump’s visit to Louisville on Wednesday initiated protests and heated debates across the downtown area. 

Trump was in the city to speak at an AMVETS convention and to attend a fundraiser for Gov. Matt Bevin’s re-election campaign. The visit, which lasted about four hours, created questions ahead of Kentucky’s upcoming gubernatorial election. 

Protests outside of the Galt House, where the AMVETS convention was held, included anti-Trump chants but also calls to “ditch” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Bevin. Louisville residents said they were protesting for different reasons, but all had concerns about how Trump’s policies were impacting Kentuckians. 

{{tncms-inline account=”laurel_deppen” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Jones and George Lundy, both of Louisville, are veterans. They called Trump an “embarrassment” to the country and used the same word to describe Bevin, McConnell and Paul for Kentucky. Jones is a member of Mom’s Demand Action. <a href="https://t.co/28I5zlPFkp">pic.twitter.com/28I5zlPFkp</a></p>— Laurel Deppen (@laurel_deppen) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurel_deppen/status/1164237080450523136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164237080450523136″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”bekah_alvey” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jasmine Forie and her 8 year old daughter Lilly were among protesters at the Galt House today. Jasmine said it was important for Lilly to know she can safely speak out and voice her opinions. <a href="https://twitter.com/wkuherald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wkuherald</a> <a href="https://t.co/RnbPBHu5PE">pic.twitter.com/RnbPBHu5PE</a></p>— Rebekah Alvey (@bekah_alvey) <a href="https://twitter.com/bekah_alvey/status/1164246226562355200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164246226562355200″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”bekah_alvey” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Cooper and Fran Winstock, both from Louisville, are protesting outside the Galt House where President Trump is the expected ant minute. Winestock said she wants Trump to know he is unwanted in this city. <a href="https://twitter.com/wkuherald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wkuherald</a> <a href="https://t.co/oSqjb4RLj2">pic.twitter.com/oSqjb4RLj2</a></p>— Rebekah Alvey (@bekah_alvey) <a href="https://twitter.com/bekah_alvey/status/1164237637189799937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164237637189799937″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”lily_burris” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jenne Zurkuhlen, a 70-year-old grandmother originally from Louisville, is amongst the protestors outside the Galt House. She said she's disappointed in the president for letting lobbyists and the NRA sway him. <a href="https://twitter.com/wkuherald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wkuherald</a> <a href="https://t.co/QeFbfOW2Lx">pic.twitter.com/QeFbfOW2Lx</a></p>— lily b (@lily_burris) <a href="https://twitter.com/lily_burris/status/1164246178407637004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164246178407637004″ type=”twitter”}}

Among the protesters were several Trump supporters who said they were mainly there in hopes of seeing the president. 

{{tncms-inline account=”bekah_alvey” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zach Badgett and Cooper Kinser both 17 said it’s challenging to be a Trump supporter because of the untrue labels people automatically have. Kinser said he supports Trump because he provides jobs for coal miners. Badgett said, like Trump, he believes in America first. <a href="https://twitter.com/wkuherald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wkuherald</a> <a href="https://t.co/EJ2opQN2Bu">pic.twitter.com/EJ2opQN2Bu</a></p>— Rebekah Alvey (@bekah_alvey) <a href="https://twitter.com/bekah_alvey/status/1164249974013648896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164249974013648896″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”laurel_deppen” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Codi Schneider, one of the few people in the crowd wearing a Trump shirt, said the economy is one of the most important issues to him. <a href="https://t.co/SHi2dYLyAL">pic.twitter.com/SHi2dYLyAL</a></p>— Laurel Deppen (@laurel_deppen) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurel_deppen/status/1164246103090499585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164246103090499585″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”laurel_deppen” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rufus Weidemeyer said protestors were “screaming about the president, but it’s not the president’s fault,” he blamed congress for a lot of the issues. He came today for a chance to see the president, but when he didn’t he said he was just having fun. <a href="https://t.co/zXE5vGYq6d">pic.twitter.com/zXE5vGYq6d</a></p>— Laurel Deppen (@laurel_deppen) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurel_deppen/status/1164250356878061568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164250356878061568″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”lily_burris” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Outside the Galt House, an argument has broken out about privilege. One man in a Make America Great Again short had water dumped on him by a protestor. <a href="https://twitter.com/wkuherald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wkuherald</a> <a href="https://t.co/18yYolh8D2">pic.twitter.com/18yYolh8D2</a></p>— lily b (@lily_burris) <a href="https://twitter.com/lily_burris/status/1164251599067332608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”1164251599067332608″ type=”twitter”}}