Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas), a 2020 presidential contender, announced on Tuesday he will take part in an event in El Paso, Texas, that will honor the victims of a recent mass shooting and "confront President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE and white supremacy."

"Thank you for your leadership, @RepEscobar. When President Trump comes to El Paso tomorrow, I will be joining our strong, beautiful, binational community at #ElPasoStrong. I hope to see you there," O'Rourke tweeted in response to Rep. Veronica Escobar Veronica EscobarHispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 Races heat up for House leadership posts Ahead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans MORE (D-Texas), who first said she would be attending the event.

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The "community action," which will take place around the same time Trump pays a visit to the city on Wednesday in tribute to the victims of a recent mass shooting at a Walmart, is hosted by several progressive and pro-immigrant groups, including the Border Network for Human Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Mexicanos en el exilio. Its Facebook page reads in part, "President Trump is not welcome in El Paso and his narrative around immigrants and Central Americans should not be welcome anywhere."

Escobar earlier on Tuesday tweeted that she had been invited by the White House to join Trump during his visit, but that she declined because he wouldn't speak with her over the phone.

O'Rourke, who first rose to national prominence last year when he mounted an unexpectedly competitive Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R), has seen his star wane in recent months, with his numbers stalling in the polls and his debate performances drawing little attention.

But the former Texas congressman, who hails from El Paso, had a breakout moment on Sunday following the deadly shooting, after he went off on the press when asked by a reporter what Trump could do to prevent more mass shootings.

"What do you think? You know the shit he’s been saying," O'Rourke told reporters. "He’s been calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. I don’t know, like, members of the press, what the f---?"

The comments, which earned him praise from liberals after going viral, came shortly after at least 22 people were killed in an El Paso Walmart on Saturday by a gunman who told authorities he had wanted to kill as many Mexicans as possible. Within 24 hours, the mass shooting was followed by another one in Dayton, Ohio.

Journalists, pundits and Democratic presidential candidates were quick to draw a link between the shootings and Trump, who over the past several weeks has stoked racial divisions with a string of caustic remarks directed at Democratic lawmakers of color.

Since his comments to reporters over the weekend, O'Rourke has weighed in repeatedly on Trump's response to the shootings, going so far as to link the Trump administration to the Third Reich.

His campaign said O'Rourke will also participate in a "Morning of Remembrance" with high school students on Wednesday morning, and a memorial for the victims of the shooting later that night.

Trump on Wednesday is also planning to visit Dayton.