Former President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul's policies, labeling them as "radical left" and detrimental to the state. Speaking in Nassau County, Trump predicted a victory for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, asserting that the incumbent's leadership has led to a decline in New York.
Trump's remarks came during a visit to the Nassau County Police Academy, where he highlighted new FBI statistics on a national drop in violent crime. He described the current political climate as a "communist attack" on America, painting a grim picture of cities struggling with chaos, crime, and squalor.
"It's not going to happen to New York, New York state. That's why we got to get Bruce into office," Trump told a crowd of supporters and law enforcement officers. He suggested that Blakeman, the current Nassau County Executive, had a significant advantage due to Hochul's policies, including New York's cashless bail laws enacted in 2020. "How the hell can you lose to that?" Trump asked, adding that losing such a race would bring lasting shame.
Recent polling indicates a competitive race in New York. A Siena College survey conducted in early August showed Blakeman trailing Hochul by 10 points, 49% to 39%, among likely voters. This places Blakeman in a stronger position than Republican challenger Lee Zeldin occupied at a similar point in the 2022 election cycle, when Zeldin ultimately lost to Hochul by a narrow six-point margin in the traditionally Democratic state.
Trump's visit coincided with an intensified Republican effort to target Democratic policies, particularly concerning crime and immigration, ahead of the November elections. Republicans are seeking to capitalize on what they perceive as a sharp leftward shift within the Democratic Party, especially in suburban swing districts. Trump specifically accused Hochul of being lenient on crime, citing her support for cashless bail and a state law that restricts cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"Hochul and the radical left stand with the gang members, child predators, violent felons. We stand with hardworking New Yorkers," Trump stated. He also criticized "sanctuary state" policies, which he believes are harming the country.
Blakeman has centered his campaign on opposing policies like anti-ICE efforts, asserting that Nassau County is the safest in America due to its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. He stated that Nassau County's agreement with ICE has led to the removal of 2,000 individuals with criminal records in the past year.
During his visit, Trump was accompanied by Blakeman, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Trump praised Blakeman's initiative in hiring over 700 new police officers and drew applause when advocating for the death penalty for those who kill police officers.
In response to the criticism, Governor Hochul posted a graphic on X highlighting recent drops in crime rates across the state. According to her post, shooting deaths have decreased by 62%, murder by 57%, and overall crime by 10%.