UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Formers President Donald Trump held a marketing campaign rally Wednesday at Nassau Coliseum on Lengthy Island, the place he advised his supporters, “we’re going to win New York.”
The group began packing the parking zone round 8 a.m., earlier than doorways opened at 3 p.m. and Trump hit the stage at 7 p.m.
Safety was terribly tight for one of many former president’s first rallies since Sunday’s obvious assassination try. Measures have been each seen and unseen, together with seen sharpshooters and bomb-sniffing canines, helicopters overhead, and undercover operatives within the crowd.
“For this occasion, we’ve to maintain it hermetic … All working collectively, our federal, state and legislation enforcement and Homeland Safety companions. This will probably be a really, very secure place,” mentioned Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman.
Police mentioned earlier experiences on social media of explosives being discovered on the website have been false. They mentioned one individual, who might have been coaching a bomb-detection canine close to the positioning, was detained and questioned.
“We’re going to win New York”
In his 90-minute speech, Trump vowed he might win New York, a state President Joe Biden carried by 23 factors.
He talked concerning the decay of the town he was born in and promised to reinstate the native tax deduction referred to as SALT, which his administration backed laws to cap throughout his presidency.
“Saving hundreds of {dollars} for residents of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and different high-cost states,” Trump mentioned.
He doubled-down on his assaults on immigrants and referenced current experiences of rape in Queens and Brooklyn, vowing to deport migrants, a few of whom are within the nation with authorized momentary standing.
“I have been speaking about them for 5 years now,” he mentioned. “I mentioned in case you allow them to in, it is going to be hell. They’re vicious, violent criminals which are being let into our nation.”
Even when he would not flip the state purple, the previous president was invited to Lengthy Island by the Republican Nassau County govt partially to assist bolster Republican congressional candidates.
“The Home Republican majority completely comes via New York. It is probably not there but for the presidential race,” Rep. Nick LaLota mentioned.
“The political earth beneath us has moved to the best. We’ll discover out in November what meaning for the New York voters,” Zeldin mentioned.
Trump supporters out in pressure on Lengthy Island
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder unlocked the gate on the coliseum himself, signaling the beginning of an occasion he vowed can be the most secure place within the nation.
First on line was Virginia Ciccotto of Massapequa park who overnighted outdoors the coliseum.
“He had the whole lot proper, we have been doing nice and now this nation is falling aside. Every thing is frightening. It is harmful,” Ciccotto mentioned.
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A whole bunch of individuals in purple Make America Nice Once more caps and waving flags poured in, reflecting perception New York state might be flipped.
“I count on President Trump to speak about the necessity to make life on this nation extra reasonably priced, to strengthen our border, to be extra power unbiased and dominant, to have safer streets, higher international coverage and extra,” mentioned former congressman Lee Zeldin.
“It is a fantastic chance as a result of, President Trump, we all know what we had along with his first 4 years,” one individual mentioned.
“Folks see the person delivers and with inflation, immigration, the whole lot looks as if it is the wrong way up,” one other mentioned.
“He is a beautiful man. He has finished a lot for our nation,” mentioned Matt Kay, of Brooklyn. “A whole lot of unhealthy issues have occurred these final 4 years and Kamala will not be the reply. It is Donald Trump.”
“I maintain assembly extra individuals who assume conservatively like I do, so I undoubtedly really feel prefer it might be the most effective probabilities that New York might go that course,” mentioned Plainview resident Ari Gross.
Anti-Trump protests held outdoors Nassau Coliseum
Reflecting the divisions within the nation, protests have been held simply outdoors the gates of coliseum later Wednesday.
“Donald Trump, you understand, he places on a very good present. Sadly, he places on a crummy presidency,” one man mentioned. “So I feel that is what we’ve to remind voters of. We’re out right here to remind voters that Donald Trump is absolutely no good for Nassau County, no good for the state of New York state, and positively no good for the USA of America.”
Haitians gathered to blast the pet-eating rumors unfold by Trump.
“We’re calling on Haitians to face up and vote versus Trump,” Assemblyman Philip Ramos mentioned.
Democratic leaders mentioned Trump’s go to means much less time campaigning in swing states.
“New York is solidly blue, so I feel it is a fantasy they will change the electoral vote,” state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs mentioned.
“Now [Trump] says he’s for SALT deduction, however he’s the writer and pusher of this initiative to remove this tax aid,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages mentioned.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff campaigns for Harris in Brooklyn
Just some miles away, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff campaigned for his spouse in Brooklyn.
“Take a look at how she stepped up in July. Take a look at how she stepped up on the conference. Take a look at how she stepped up at that debate,” he mentioned.
Talking to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington earlier Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to chop taxes for working households and increase the kid tax credit score.
“It isn’t truthful that our seniors have had to decide on between filling their prescriptions and placing meals of their fridge or paying their hire,” Harris mentioned.
