Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYPD union leader Pat Lynch, in back-to-back Republican National Convention speeches Thursday, painted New York City as a cesspool of crime and lawlessness -- despite crime reaching near-record low numbers under Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Both blamed Democratic leadership and anti-law enforcement sentiment for an increase in shootings and murders in their hometown.
They cast the general election as a choice between safety and security under President Trump and chaos and anarchy under his Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
“We are endorsing our president, Donald J. Trump, for reelection because the stakes have never been higher,” said Lynch, who leads the Police Benevolent Association. “Like cops across this country, we are staring down the barrel of a public safety disaster.”
Giuliani, who serves as Trump’s personal attorney, called the president “the man we can trust to preserve and even improve our way of life.” He closed out his remarks with this line: “Mr. President, make our nation safe again.”
The former mayor and PBA president spoke on the final night of the convention and ahead of Trump’s White House address accepting the Republican nomination for a second term.
The convention has featured footage of de Blasio, who Trump and his surrogates have vilified.
While crime has soared in New York City this year, it was far higher during Giuliani’s eight years in office.
Giuliani said Thursday: “These continuous riots in Democrat cities gives you a good view of the future under Biden.”
Echoing a line from Vice President Mike Pence’s speech the previous night, Lynch said: “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,”
Biden has pushed back against the characterization of violent uprisings against police brutality as a Democratic problem.
In a statement Thursday, the former vice president referenced this Pence line: “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
Biden responded: “His proof? The violence you’re seeing in Donald Trump’s America. Did Mike Pence forget Donald Trump is president? Is Donald Trump even aware he’s president?”
In his nomination acceptance speech later in the evening, Trump mentioned NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia, who was shot and killed while sitting in her mobile command unit on July 5, 2017. He acknowledged Familia's three children, who were in the audience.
"Genesis, Peter, and Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight," Trump said. "I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever."