Trump Describes NYC as Wasteland at Long Island Rally, Calls Dems ‘Threat’

Former President Donald Trump held a rally at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York, marking his first public appearance since a recent alleged assassination attempt. Addressing thousands of supporters, Trump described his hometown of New York City in dark terms and portrayed his Democratic adversaries as a “threat to democracy.”

During the rally, Trump announced plans to visit Springfield, Ohio, a town he has criticized with false claims about its Haitian population allegedly eating “pets.” This visit is scheduled within the next fortnight. His comments suggested that the narrative from his political opponents, who deem him a threat to democracy, may incite dangerous actions against him.

Trump’s Long Island rally aimed to connect with voters in New York, a state predominantly leaning Democratic. This event was his second rally in the state and came amid his ongoing legal issues, including a civil fraud trial in New York. Expressing his concerns, Trump warned that if a Democrat were to win in November, New York could be transformed into a “third-world country.”

While Trump has often claimed a rise in crime rates in New York City and elsewhere, these assertions conflict with recent crime statistics. Data released by the city’s mayor and police commissioner highlighted an 11% decrease in murders compared to last year. Overall violent crime complaints, including murder, rape, and robbery, have decreased by nearly 3% in 2024 and have dropped by approximately 81% over the last three decades.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland previously noted a significant decline in national violent crime rates, indicating that the upward crime trend claimed by Trump is inaccurate. Despite this, during his rally, Trump thanked law enforcement for thwarting the alleged assassination attempt on him and expressed a desire to meet the woman who captured an image of the suspect’s vehicle.

Continuing his address, Trump directed his ire at “the radical left Democrat politicians and the fake news media,” calling for an end to what he termed lies, hoaxes, and smears directed against him. He invoked claims of being non-threatening to democracy while asserting his opponents are the true danger.

Trump also pledged to restore state and local tax deductions (SALT), which were capped at $10,000 in his 2017 tax legislation. Prior to the rally, he posted on social media stating, “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE? VOTE FOR TRUMP!” and promising a reversal of tax policies if re-elected.

Outside the rally venue, vendors displayed an array of Trump merchandise amid a festival-like atmosphere, which included upbeat music and extravagant displays such as golden vehicles with Trump’s image. The campaign reported that there were 60,000 requests for tickets, making it one of the largest rallies in this campaign cycle.

The excitement around the rally coincided with an ongoing legal battle. Trump was originally scheduled for sentencing in his civil fraud trial on the same day but received a postponement until late November, after the presidential election.

In an earlier engagement, Trump emphasized his strategy to persuade New Yorkers, aiming to diminish Democratic dominance in the state. His recent post indicated a commitment to abolish the SALT cap, a topic of debate among New York Republicans.

Despite the support he has garnered within the local Republican faction, concerns persist regarding the potential consequences of his proposed tax relief measures on the national deficit. Trump maintains a narrative that is compelling to his base, linking his policies to lower taxes and economic improvements.

In a past rally in South Bronx, Trump had claimed that New York would soon turn red, attempting to appeal to a diverse voter base. “We have levels of support that nobody’s seen before… Don’t assume it doesn’t matter just because you live in a blue city. You live in a blue city, but it’s going red very, very quickly,” he had stated.

Trump also echoed false claims regarding the immigrant population in Springfield and suggested that violent offenders should be expelled. He hinted at a potential lack of return from his upcoming visit to Springfield in a tongue-in-cheek manner, addressing the audience with comments about what might happen to him there.

This rally was Trump’s first large-scale event following the assassination attempt during a golf outing in West Palm Beach. The Nassau rally was expected to be significantly more substantial than a recent town hall in Michigan, which had drawn nearly 4,000 voters.

Before this event, Trump had made several smaller campaign stops in New York, signaling his desire to reinforce his political message amid ongoing legal challenges. His previous visits included symbolic stops intended to showcase crime issues and garner union support, as he continues to navigate a political landscape fraught with challenges.

Source: ABC News