A rally for former President Donald Trump drew a large crowd at Crotona Park in the Bronx Thursday night.
NY1 reporters on scene said the turnout was in “in the thousands.”
Trump in 2020 won only 16% of the vote in the borough, which is considered a Democratic stronghold. Nevertheless, Trump — in the city for his criminal hush money trial in Manhattan — used a recess in the trial to campaign for support in his presidential bid.
In his speech, Trump criticized the current state of the city.
“Sadly, this is now a city in decline. Throughout my life, I’ve seen New York through good times and bad, through boom times and crime waves, through market crashes and terrorist attacks. But I’ve never seen it quite like this,” Trump said.
The former president said he could “make New York City great again,” while touting his prior accomplishments in the city — such as helping build Wollman Rink in Central Park and the Javits Center — as a real estate developer.
“Don’t worry, it gets positive,” Trump said. “Remember, we’re all winners. We’re going to win so big we’re going to make it [New York City] bigger and better than ever before.”
A group of counter-protestors, including elected officials and members of labor unions, rallied against what they said was Trump’s divisive rhetoric at the event Thursday.
"He [Trump] is winning people over through predjudice and fear, which is a really scary thing," David Bolger, a counter-protester, said.
Some politicians had previously voiced opposition to Trump’s stop in the Bronx, calling it a political stunt. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was a “fundraising tactic” in an interview on “Mornings on 1” Thursday.
Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres said, “The only place in the Bronx where Donald Trump has any place being is Bronx Criminal Court.”
In an interview on CNN Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York will never support Donald Trump for president.
“We know him better than anyone, and that means we understand what he’s all about,” Hochul said. “If he wants to spend his time doing these made-up, fake rallies pretending there’s support here, be my guest.”
Trump is under a gag order during his hush money trial, which resumes on Tuesday. Though he previously violated the order multiple times, Trump kept mostly quiet about his feelings on the proceedings during the Bronx rally.