The presumptive Republican nominee took a break from the big rallies and media events he is known for to appear at a closed-door fundraiser for Long Island Republicans Wednesday night.
WOODBURY, N.Y. - The last time Donald Trump had an event on Long Island, a massive rally in Bethpage, anti-Trump protestors came out in droves. But on Wednesday night, there were none to be found.
Police barricades set up outside the Nassau Country Republican Party fundraiser Trump headlined were empty. There only protester NY1 could find was a man who came out to oppose Hillary Clinton.
Instead, Trump appeared before a friendly crowd at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
"Tonight was fabulous," said one attendee. "Donald Trump is going to be our next president."
"I really enjoyed it. It was like a pep rally," said another.
"It was very inspirational," said a third. "No rhetoric. No badmouthing."
Earlier in the day, Trump said he wanted to tap former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to lead a commission that would examine his immigration platform and his plan to block foreign Muslims from entering the U.S., which he says would be a way to address what Trump calls radical Islamic terrorism.
"We have to be extremely careful," Trump said. "In fact, I’m thinking of setting up a commission, perhaps headed by Rudy Giuliani, to take a very serious look at this problem. This is a worldwide problem and we have to be smart.
And the candidate who has appeared to break every rule in American politics is planning to break one more. Trump says he may not release his tax returns before the general election. They are being audited. If he keeps them private, Trump would be the first major party presidential nominee in 40 years not to release them. He later said he would make them public after the audit is complete.
As for Trump's appearance on Long Island, it may be a sign that he will make a play for his solidly blue home state in November. A Republican presidential candidate has not won New York State since 1984.