Former President Donald Trump expressed confidence in winning New York in November after drawing a massive crowd of 25,000 supporters at a rally in the deep-blue Bronx, a district that hasn't voted Republican in a century.
Former President Donald Trump believes he can win over voters in New York despite historical challenges faced by Republican candidates in the state. During a recent rally in the Bronx, Trump told "FOX & Friends" co-host Lawrence Jones that he has a "special relationship" with the people of New York.
"When you see all these people here of all different backgrounds, do you think the Republican Party can win here?" Jones asked Trump. "Can you take over the city council, the mayor's office? The governor's office?"
"Well, I don't know about other races. I think we can win New York as a presidential candidate because I have a special relationship with these people," Trump responded.
Trump's rally in the Bronx, which drew far more than the initial 3,500 attendees expected, was just one of several recent events where he has attracted large crowds. At a rally in New Jersey, he drew an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people.
"We have the largest crowds we've ever had," Trump said, explaining that he increased his 2016 vote total by about 11 million in 2020. "I will say this, as good as 2016 and 2020 were, it's nothing compared to what's happening now, and you see that."
Trump vowed to "turn New York City around" if elected, promising to restore safety and improve schools. He also pledged to work with Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams to address the city's problems, including renovating the subway system, cleaning up the parks, and removing the homeless and mentally ill from the streets.
"It's time for a change of leadership," one rally attendee told Fox News. "We've been voting down the same party for years now and nothing has changed. Things have gotten out of control. We're dealing with housing situations. We're dealing with homelessness, the mentally ill, crime. There's a lot happening here. Inflation."
Trump also used the speech to rail against the economic issues facing the country under the Biden administration, particularly affecting Black and Hispanic families. He repeated some of his often-used lines about energy, inflation, and being "weak" on the foreign stage.
"I've always been raised to think a certain way," one supporter said, explaining she wanted to "right a wrong" by electing Trump.
Despite historical challenges, Trump remains confident in his ability to win New York in November. A Siena poll this month found him trailing Biden by nine points, but the former president has a history of defying expectations.
