SYRACUSE, N.Y. — President Trump promised New York voters on Friday that he would move quickly to help Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman lower energy costs and take tougher action on crime and illegal immigration if Blakeman defeats Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in November.
Speaking before a packed crowd in Syracuse, Trump accused Hochul and other Democrats of making New York a symbol of soaring expenses, rising crime, corruption and policies he said were driving businesses, jobs and wealth out of the state.
“The people of New York need to clean house in Albany on November 3rd, starting with Kathy Hochul,” Trump told supporters.
The president also cited what he described as alarming figures involving migrant defendants arrested in New York. He claimed Hochul’s administration had released people accused or convicted of serious crimes, leaving them free to endanger residents.
“In less than two years, New York has released criminal illegal aliens with charges and convictions for over 48,000 crimes,” Trump said. He alleged that those cases included about 8,600 assaults, 1,600 robberies, as well as numerous rape, kidnapping and murder charges.
Trump argued that Democratic sanctuary policies, as he characterized them, put the safety of innocent New Yorkers at risk.
He praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers involved in Thursday’s shooting of Oscar Belgal, whom Trump described as a suspected migrant gang member with a lengthy criminal history and possible ties to murder. Trump called Belgal “a very dangerous man” and said authorities had captured him.
Trump said New York politicians should have applauded the ICE officers rather than criticize them, arguing that the suspect had been allowed to remain at liberty.
Trump urged voters who want to prevent the release of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes into their communities to elect Blakeman, along with a Republican-led Congress. He also renewed his call to outlaw sanctuary cities and states.
Trump told the crowd that if Blakeman becomes governor and asks for help addressing crime in New York City or other dangerous areas, he would arrive within 24 hours.
With Blakeman in the governor’s office, Trump predicted that some high-crime communities could see a dramatic transformation within two months, claiming they could become nearly crime-free as he said had happened under his leadership in Washington, D.C., Memphis and New Orleans.
Energy prices were another major focus of Trump’s attack on Hochul. He said Blakeman could reduce New Yorkers’ electric bills by as much as 90%.
“Your energy bills are the highest in the nation,” Trump told the audience. He said Blakeman could move New York from the top of that list to among the states with the lowest costs by tapping the state’s oil resources.
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Trump said New York sits atop some of the world’s largest oil reserves but claimed state policies prevent residents from using them.
“If Bruce Blakeman gets in, he will cut your electric bills by 70%, 80% and 90%,” Trump promised.
The rally took place at Syracuse OneCenter, a large convention venue in the heart of the city.
Trump opened his remarks by telling the enthusiastic crowd that he was pleased to return to upstate New York.
Drawing loud applause, he referred to Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” echoing his controversial push to rename the Great Lake.
Boxing icon Mike Tyson and New York Yankees President Randy Levine accompanied Trump aboard Air Force One during the trip to Syracuse.
Trump also joked about Tyson’s intimidating reputation, telling the crowd, “He’s a very dangerous person actually.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and New York GOP Reps. Claudia Tenney and Nick Langworthy also traveled with Trump on the presidential plane.
Ahead of the president’s speech, Blakeman warmed up the crowd by pledging that New York would be opened up to fracking and cease being a “sanctuary state” if elected.
“We’ve got to tap into that Marcellus Shale. It’s drill baby drill,” Blakeman said.
The Nassau County executive slammed Hochul as “the most pro-criminal governor in America” and said Albany policies like cashless bail and sanctuary cities are “all designed to let criminals get out and suffer no consequences for committing crimes in our communities.”
He also blamed Hochul for Thursday’s ICE shooting in the Bronx for allowing “illegal migrants with criminal records to prey on the people of our state,” Blakeman said.
“He tried to run the ICE agents over,” Blakeman continued. “Kathy Hochul, we’re outraged that you would let this guy into our state and defend him.”
Blakeman received thunderous applause when he vowed to sign an executive action declaring, “New York is no longer a sanctuary state,” if he beats Hochul.