President Donald Trump returned to his home state of New York on Friday night to headline a Syracuse rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, casting the race against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul as part of a broader national fight and pledging direct support from Washington if Blakeman wins.
Trump told the crowd that Blakeman would «save this state» and «turn the state around,» adding that he would help from the White House. «I'll be helping him for governor,» Trump said, making the challenge to Hochul the centerpiece of the evening. He urged supporters to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his administration, telling them, «Please pretend I'm on the freaking ballot,» and arguing that Democrats could undo his agenda if they regain power.
The president attacked Hochul over New York's taxes, utility bills and public safety, arguing that Blakeman could unlock the state's economic potential by embracing domestic energy production and cutting costs for families. He also pointed to Micron's planned $100 billion semiconductor complex in central New York, describing it as a sign of a national turnaround. «This will soon be the home to the largest semiconductor manufacturing facility ever built in the Western Hemisphere,» Trump said. The company has said the project is expected to generate 50,000 jobs across the state, including 9,000 directly with Micron.
Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, joined Trump onstage and echoed the message of a Republican resurgence. He promised to cut taxes and utility bills, focus on public safety and make New York more attractive to businesses and families. «We have to create good jobs, good benefits to keep our young people here,» Blakeman said. «We gotta look at business not as the enemy, but as a partner.»
Trump also threw his support behind Republican congressional candidates Kailee Buller, who is challenging Democratic Rep. John Mannion in New York's 22nd District, and Anthony Constantino, who is running for the open 21st District seat. He pledged to help Republicans compete for both seats as the GOP makes its final push toward November.
The rally featured a brief on-stage appearance by former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, whom Trump invited before the crowd. «I'm just happy to be up here with my president, President Trump,» Tyson said. «And, there's no way in the world I would ever be here if it wasn't for a president like Donald Trump.» Trump responded with a laugh, joking, «I don't want to fight him,» before complimenting the former champion.
With Election Day approaching, Trump returned to his core message that Republicans need his supporters to turn out in force. «We're going to elect a Republican House and Republican Senate,» he said. The Syracuse stop was part of a broader midterm blitz aimed at boosting Republican candidates up and down the ballot in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2002.