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Dayton mayor given security detail after spat with Donald Trump sparked deluge of hate messages

A two-person team of detectives watched the mayor around the clock for six days

David Maclean
New York
Saturday 17 August 2019 21:05 BST
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The mayor of Dayton, Ohio - where nine people were murdered this month in a mass shooting - was given a round-the-clock security detail following her war of words with Donald Trump.

Initially, a two-person team of detectives guarded Nan Whaley for six days after they sparred, the Dayton Daily News reports.

The precaution was made following a deluge of hate-filled messages received after she verbally sparred with the president after his visit to a hospital in the city earlier this month.

Ms Whaley, President Trump and Senator Sherrod Brown visited shooting victims, survivors and first responders at Miami Valley Hospital on August 7, three days after the attack.

Shortly afterward, Whaley and Brown held a press conference where they urged the president to support and sign legislation requiring background checks on gun purchases and other reforms.

Ms Whaley added that first responders and victims were grateful the president had come to Dayton.

But later that day, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that Whaley and Brown “misrepresented” what took place inside the hospital - despite Brown and Whaley saying very little about Mr Trump’s time with patients and others.

"Their news conference after I left for El Paso was a fraud. It bore no resemblance to what took place with those incredible people that I was so lucky to meet and spend time with.”

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She responded by calling him a bully and a coward.

The security detail has been scaled back, but local police would not release any further details.

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