NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump is set to campaign in one of the most Democratic areas in the nation, holding a rally in the South Bronx on Thursday. This move comes just days before a Manhattan jury begins deliberations on felony charges in his criminal hush money trial.
Trump will address supporters in Crotona Park, a significant shift from his usual rally locations in majority-white areas. His campaign anticipates a crowd of several thousand people in the diverse and impoverished borough. This rally is part of a series of local stops Trump has planned across his hometown while confined to New York for the trial. His recent visits included a Harlem bodega, a construction site, and a local firehouse.
The rally aims to highlight Trump’s appeal on economic and immigration issues to key Democratic voting blocs. “The strategy is to demonstrate to the voters of the Bronx and New York that this isn’t your typical presidential election,” said Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who will join Trump at the rally.
The Bronx Democratic Party plans to protest Trump’s appearance, stating on social media, “Trump isn’t welcome in the Bronx.” However, Trump’s campaign believes he can sway Black and Hispanic voters, particularly younger men frustrated by their economic situations.
The rally occurs during a break in Trump’s criminal trial. After the Memorial Day weekend, the court will resume with closing arguments, and the jury will decide on Trump’s potential conviction.
Notable figures from both parties argue there’s a strategic advantage for Trump visiting the Bronx. Ed Cox, chairman of the New York Republican Party, emphasized the importance of not writing off New York, citing a recent GOP city council seat win in the Bronx.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who had a close gubernatorial race against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in 2022, also campaigned in the Bronx. Zeldin’s ally, Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr., commended Trump for being the “first and only president or presidential candidate who has shown respect to minority communities in the Bronx” by holding a rally.
Despite the Bronx’s historical Democratic lean, with Barack Obama winning 91.2% of the vote in 2012 and Joe Biden 83.5% in 2020, Trump hopes to gain traction in the borough where he previously garnered only 16% of the vote. The area is predominantly non-white, with about 65% Hispanic and 31% Black residents, and 35% living below the poverty line.
Trump’s visit follows a historical precedent; Ronald Reagan campaigned in the South Bronx in 1980, criticizing then-President Jimmy Carter for unmet revitalization promises. Reagan’s visit was marked by protests, and Trump’s rally is expected to draw a mix of supporters and demonstrators.
Adam Solis, chairman of the Black Caucus of the New York Young Republican Club, urged any protesters to remain peaceful, emphasizing the significance of Trump’s visit to the “forgotten borough.”
