MICRON
In January, when the Micron semiconductor plant broke ground at White Pines Commerce Park in the Town of Clay, the president sent Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnik to represent his administration. Ludnik even proclaimed Central New York as “Trump country” to little fanfare as part of the celebration.
On March 4, during his Joint Session of Congress Address, President Trump threatened the Micron project altogether. He asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA, 4) to “get rid” of the CHIPS Act. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law in 2022, sending more than $6 billion for the construction of the facility.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a fellow Republican, brushed off Trump’s remarks. He dismissed Trump’s command as rhetoric.
CORNELL RAPE INVESTIGATION
President Trump has commented on the Cornell rape investigation that has caught the attention of media outlets from coast to coast.
Trump said he felt “badly” for the seven Chi Phi fraternity brothers who are accused of pressuring “Jane Doe” to consume ketamine and gang-raping her in October 2024. He said that they would not get a “fair shake” since New York State Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor.
Well, Letitia James is a corrupt person,” Trump told reporters at a rally in Alabama. “She’s totally corrupt and I can’t imagine it.”
Trump and James have had a long-running feud since the AG opened a civil fraud case against him. In 2024, a judge found that Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure more favorable loans and business deals. The lawsuit also named his adult sons and Trump Organization executives.
LAKE ONTARIO
In late August, President Trump announced an executive order directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” giving one of Central New York’s most recognizable landmarks a new federal name.
The order applies to the federal government, but it does not require New York communities, Canada or the public to adopt the new name. Lake Ontario residents pushed back on the idea. One Trump supporter told CNY Central that the president has mostly been right during his administration, but noted that Trump was “losing it here.”
Even Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bruce Blakeman said the president was “kidding” about the name change.
President Trump will endorse Blakeman on Friday at the rally.
THE GOP RALLY
President Trump is expected to speak at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center on Friday evening. Doors will open at 3 p.m. The program is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 7 p.m.