NASSAU COUNTY, Long Island (WABC) — Supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump gathered Friday in Nassau County ahead of the president’s scheduled visit to Long Island.<\/p>\n
People at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence were fired up that Trump was on Long Island. Supporters began lining up early Friday morning for a chance to see Trump speak at 3 p.m., while protesters gathered about a half-mile away on the campus of Nassau Community College.<\/p>\n
Trump’s visit comes at the invitation of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.<\/p>\n
The president called Nassau the safest county in the nation and said it has seen its largest crime reduction in 125 years.<\/p>\n
“In 2025 we achieved the single largest reduction in violent crime in American history and last year, there were over 3,100 fewer murders than the year before. Since I took office, federal law enforcement has arrested 1.2 million criminals nationwide and bad ones. We want to make sure we get the bad ones,” Trump said.<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy named Jacob Freytes was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet while riding his bike in the Bronx. The president walked off the stage to greet the 12-year-old’s parents.<\/p>\n
Trump called Governor Kathy Hochul a ‘nightmare’ for crime. This, as he was joined on stage by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running against the governor. Hochul leads Blakeman by ten points in a recent poll.<\/p>\n
The FBI’s preliminary 2025 crime data shows violent crime fell an estimated 9.3% nationwide compared with 2024, including an 18.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter. The FBI has described the figures as the largest single-year decreases in violent crime and murder since 1937.<\/p>\n
The visit comes as a new Siena poll<\/a> shows Hochul leading Blakeman by 10 points, 49% to 39%. The race has narrowed from a Siena poll released in June, when Hochul held a 20-point lead.<\/p>\n People attending the events expressed sharply differing views on both the president and the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n “He is the greatest president in this history of the United States, and I just want to see him in person,” one Trump supporter said.<\/p>\n “I think Donald Trump should go back to Washington, DC, he’s a felon, he’s a criminal,” one opponent said.<\/p>\n “It is so much safer with Blakeman, I love Bruce, he’s very strong, he has a plan to bring down taxes,” another supporter said.<\/p>\n “Our groceries are up, we can’t afford the gas prices, bringing in a big name like Donald Trump doesn’t denote the fact that this county is plummeting,” another attendee said.<\/p>\n One person was seen getting escorted out of the packed room.<\/p>\n The president poke for about an hour and ten minutes to the crowd and vowed to make America safe again.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * More Long Island news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Download our connected TV app<\/a> <\/p>\n
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