× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

President Donald Trump's comments about upstate New York in an interview with the Wall Street Journal drew criticism Wednesday from some of the region's elected officials.

Trump discussed the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Wisconsin that could create up to 10,000 new jobs and mentioned upstate New York's struggles.

"I'm going to start explaining to people: When you have an area that just isn't working like upper New York state, where people are getting very badly hurt, and then you'll have another area 500 miles away where you can't get people, I'm going to explain, you can leave. It's OK. Don't worry about your house," Trump said.

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican who has developed a good rapport with the president, said she hopes Trump's comments were taken out of context. She also invited Trump to visit upstate New York.

"I have full confidence that President Trump understands the struggle that upstate New York has experienced for decades, and why we need to continue to fight for policies that will revive our region," Tenney, R-New Hartford, said.

U.S. Rep. John Katko, another upstate Republican, said he's "disappointed" with Trump's remarks.