Endorses Blakeman for Governor
By Hank Russell
President Donald Trump visited Long Island on August 14, endorsing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for governor. The president went on to tout Blakeman’s record on crime while blasting Governor Kathy Hochul for forcing local municipalities and police departments to end their agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Speaking before a group of cadets at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Uniondale, Trump praised the work that the police officers were doing to keep communities safe. “Together, we are showing what is possible when you finally have a president in the White House who supports our police, who lets you do your jobs and backs the blue,” he said. “We always back the blue.” He went on to tell those in attendance, “I’m with you and always was 100%, 100%.”
Trump emphasized that he has provided local law enforcement “more money than you’ve ever been given in history,” adding, “You’re going out and buying the best equipment you can buy.”
On the White House’s social media page, the administration boasted the “LARGEST year to year decrease in violent crime.” According to the White House, violent crime went down 9.3% in 2025 and the murder rate was at its lowest since the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began making estimates in 1936.
The administration added that “preliminary trends for 2026 show additional decreases” in crime. During the first half of this year, compared to the first six months of last year, violent crime was down 10.6%, murder fell by 23.0%, rapes decreased by 18.6%, robberies fell by 19.6% and aggravated assaults were down 7.2%.
He also urged those in attendance to support Blakeman and vote for him this November. Gothamist quoted Trump describing Blakeman as “ a great person, a friend of mine for a long time, a great political leader, a great politician.”
“We have to get Bruce into office,” Trump said, according to Gothamist. “Nowhere is the communist attack on American society more clear than in New York state. The radical-left Gov. Kathy Hochul has been very, very bad on crime.”
Former New York Assemblyman Mike LiPetri, who is running on the GOP ticket for Congress against incumbent Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), said it is important that Blakeman and other Republicans get into office this November. He told Newsmax TV host Rob Schmitt that the purpose of government is to build up its people “rather than standing in their way and causing chaos and danger in their communities. This is dangerous, and we’re looking to stop it. And we will stop it this November.”
He also criticized the “spineless” Democrats for allowing the democratic socialist “surge” that is “hijacking” their party. “The only way to silence these socialists is by Republicans winning this November,” he said.
In advance of the visit, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki cited a Buffalo News article which reported that index crimes have gone up under Blakeman. “Donald Trump and Bruce Blakeman, literally campaigning side by side this week, are showing New Yorkers what this race is all about: a governor who’s protecting our healthcare, investing billions in public safety, and standing up to Trump’s endless attacks, or a MAGA fanboy who’d rather be at Mar-a-Lago right now,” he said.
Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James defended their immigration law. “The safety of New Yorkers is our top priority,” they said in a joint statement. That’s why New York passed these laws, why we will enforce them, and why we will continue standing up to federal overreach. Our job is to enforce the law, and that is exactly what we plan on doing.”
NYS Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said Trump and Blakeman “are failing this state, and New Yorkers know it. Trump’s agenda is Blakeman’s agenda: the same cruel healthcare cuts, the same skyrocketing costs, and the same attacks on our public safety. Every time Donald Trump hurts this state, Blakeman supports it – from illegal tariffs, to masked, unaccountable ICE agents abusing their power, to baseless claims about stealing elections. New Yorkers want no part of it.”