Amid the controversial Manhattan Hush money trial, former President Donald Trump has received an outpouring of support from New Yorkers when meeting with construction workers. An eager crowd chanted “We love Trump!” as he walked around greeting supporters. The GOP frontrunner even suggested that he intends to “make a play on New York,” a deep blue state, in the upcoming election.
While his various legal battles have hindered Trump’s campaign efforts in other states, he has sought to capitalize on being in New York City for the trial, speaking to union and construction workers who feel disillusioned with the Biden administration.
Trump acknowledged that the demographic has traditionally voted Democrat but noted he is receiving substantial support from blue-collar workers. “I think these maybe were Democrats. But for me, they are Republicans. We built a lot of great buildings in this city with these people. And they’ve given me great support. They’re really amazing,” he said.
The former president further cited recent polling data that suggests he is leading Biden in many critical swing states as well as the broader country. Trump explained that he is seeking to attempt to flip New York red, something that hasn’t occurred in a presidential election in decades.
“We’re very close in New York I understand and we’re leading in the country by a lot. A poll just came out a little while ago, as you saw yesterday, that we have we’re up in every swing state and up by a lot in every swing state so I think we’ll do very well and we’re gonna make a play for New York,” Trump said optimistically.
Furthermore, a union leader told Fox News that Trump is far more popular than President Biden within his ranks. According to Bob Bartels, COO of Steamfitters Local 638 NYC and Long Island, Trump is leading Biden “three to one” within his union amid serious concerns about the state of the nation.
“I put out a poll and my union. President Trump is leading Joe Biden three to one on my presidential poll out of my 9000 members right now. We are very tired of the situation with groceries, inflation, gas prices, Illegal immigration, crime… we’re living it every day in New York City,” Bartels said.
Trump has been highly vocal about the hush money case brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The American Tribune recently reported on comments from the former president, who slammed the trial, stating he should be active on the campaign trail instead of sitting in court.
“This is a Biden witch hunt to keep me off the campaign trail,” Trump said. “I should be in Georgia now. I should be in Florida now. I should be in a lot of different places right now, campaigning. And I’m sitting here. This will go on for a long time. It’s very unfair,” he said outside the courtroom.
“I did nothing wrong,” Trump added. He further blasted the trial, stating, “They take this payment, and they call it a legal expense. You heard it today for the first time. This is what I got indicted over. This is what took me off and takes me on the campaign trail.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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