Supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump gathered Friday in Nassau County ahead of the president's scheduled visit to Long Island.
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. Those backing the president assembled near the event site, while protesters gathered about a half-mile away on the campus of Nassau Community College.
Trump's visit comes at the invitation of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The president touted how Nassau County is the safest county and the county has seen the largest reduction in crime in 125 years.
"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 have arrested 1.2 million criminals nationwide and bad ones. We want to make sure we get the bad ones," Trump said.
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.
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.
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.
The visit comes as a new Siena poll 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.
People attending the events expressed sharply differing views on both the president and the gubernatorial race.
"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.
"I think Donald Trump should go back to Washington, DC, he's a felon, he's a criminal," one opponent said.
"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.
"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.
One person was seen getting escorted out of the packed room.
The president poke for about an hour and ten minutes to the crowd and vowed to make America safe again.
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