Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally in South Bronx, a Democratic stronghold in the heart of New York City, on Thursday. This rare move is expected to take place at Crotona Park at 6:00 PM, where Trump is anticipated to address issues concerning the economy, crime, and immigration.
Simultaneously, several labor and civil rights organizations are planning to hold counter-protests in the park to demonstrate their disapproval of the Republican former president’s visit.
Strategists suggest that Trump’s rally in the Bronx is not aimed at flipping the deep-blue New York in November, but rather to attract a large number of supporters at an unexpected location to showcase his campaign strength.
Not long ago, Trump held campaign events in New Jersey and Minnesota, indicating his belief that he can compete with Democratic President Biden in traditional blue states.
In New York City, Trump’s performance in the 2020 election was notably better than in 2016. According to The Wall Street Journal, he received tens of thousands of votes city-wide in 2020, with South Bronx being one of his most supportive areas. While Biden still won the city by a significant margin, Trump made significant gains in the three congressional districts of South Bronx, where he garnered the most votes out of all NYC districts.
According to The Hill, Alex Conant, who has worked in several Republican campaign teams, mentioned that holding campaign events in New Jersey and New York is strategic as it can attract a large crowd. He noted that while there might be more Democrats than Republicans, there are still plenty of Republicans who could participate in a large-scale event.
Trump’s campaign team has stated that at Thursday evening’s rally, the former president will focus on how the Biden administration has brought economic pressure and crime issues to New York families.
This event aims to draw a massive crowd for the presumed Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. By taking the stage in a location overwhelmingly supportive of the Democratic Party, Trump hopes to garner media coverage at a time when his campaigning abilities are somewhat restricted due to ongoing legal proceedings.
A Republican strategist commented, “He has become very creative. This also shows why Trump is a master at winning the media.”