President Donald Trump plans to emphasize his administration's record on crime and public safety during a visit to New York on Friday, a strategy aimed at bolstering Republican candidates in competitive districts ahead of the November midterm elections.
The President is scheduled to visit the Nassau County Police Academy on Long Island, where the White House announced he will release new FBI crime statistics that reportedly show a decrease in violent crime for 2025. "President Trump promised to make America safe again and the data proves he has done just that," said White House spokesperson Lauren Bis. "Unlike Defund-the-Police Democrats, President Trump will always stand with our law enforcement officers and deliver safer American neighborhoods."
Trump's visit is intended to support Republican candidates in closely contested races in his home state. He narrowly won Nassau County in 2024, a district that had not favored Republicans in over two decades. This area includes two Democratic House seats that Republicans now consider winnable. The visit also supports Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Joining Trump at the Nassau County Police Academy will be Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. This marks Trump's second visit to New York this year to support Blakeman and other Republicans. In May, he spoke in the Hudson Valley, stating Blakeman would address what he described as "out of control" crime.
Crime has become a central issue in the gubernatorial race, with both candidates asserting their effectiveness in ensuring New Yorkers' safety. Governor Hochul previously visited a Long Island police department in July to announce a statewide investment in policing technology.
Blakeman expressed gratitude for Trump's visit, stating it would allow for a tour of "outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities" and a tribute to law enforcement personnel. Blakeman, in a Fox Business interview, downplayed concerns that Trump's presence might be unpopular in New York City, suggesting that a relationship with the president could be beneficial even for voters who do not agree with Trump's politics.
However, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki countered that the governor has invested billions in public safety, contrasting this with Blakeman and Trump, whom he accused of allowing violent crime to rise and ICE agents to abuse their power.
Republican strategist Matt Gorman indicated that Trump's visit could provide a boost for Blakeman and Republican challengers in Nassau County's 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts. Gorman described the focus on crime as a key issue for Republicans that resonates with both Trump's base and suburban swing voters, stating, "On the strategic level, crime is an issue that Republicans feel comfortable going on offense with, where the country kind of broadly agrees with them."
Trump is highlighting crime reduction amidst lower approval ratings on other issues, such as the economy and the war in Iran. An AP-NORC poll from August 2025 indicated that Trump's handling of crime was a strong point for him, though his approval on this issue had declined by December 2025. His past efforts to curb crime, including the deployment of the National Guard in several cities, have often been cited in his speeches.
Trump recently criticized the Center for American Progress over a report questioning the effectiveness of National Guard deployments in reducing crime. He asserted on social media that crime has significantly decreased since he took office. Republican strategist Jesse Hunt suggested that discussing crime reduction in New York offers Trump an opportunity to connect with a diverse range of voters, emphasizing that "The issue of crime and safety is a massive winner for Republicans."
The White House stated that the forthcoming FBI statistics are expected to show year-over-year decreases in murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. However, crime experts typically advise caution when interpreting single-year changes, advocating instead for an analysis of long-term trends.