Trump teases possible rally at New York City venues, predicts migrant crisis could sway Democrat voters
Trump says he's considering rallies at Madison Square Garden, South Bronx
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Former President Trump teased possible rallies in New York City at Madison Square Garden and in the South Bronx during an interview with Fox News that aired Sunday.
"Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo asked Trump if he believes he could flip blue states like New York and New Jersey, noting there is a rumor he is planning a rally in the South Bronx.
"Yeah, I think I will do that," Trump said of the South Bronx rally. "And I think I'll do one maybe at Madison Square Garden."
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"Do I think we have a chance? New York has changed a lot in the last two years. We have migrants all over the street. They are living on Madison Avenue," Trump said. "Nobody can believe what's happened to New York. The people of New York are angry. People that would have never voted for me because I'm a Republican. I mean, they're Democrats. Their parents were Democrats. They would vote for Democrats. I think they're going to vote for me. So I think we're going to give New York a heavy shot. They're very unhappy in New York. What's happening? And they're unhappy with the crime. You take a look at the crime in New York, it's at record levels. The other thing is, and very importantly, New Jersey, I think New Jersey can be flipped. I think that Virginia can be flipped. I think that New Mexico could be flipped. And I think Minnesota could be flipped. And I'm not even sure that everything can't be flipped."
NEW YORK CITY TO HAND OUT $53 MILLION IN PRE-PAID CREDIT CARDS TO MIGRANT FAMILIES: REPORT
A native New Yorker whose real estate ventures helped build the New York City skyline, Trump has come under fire in the Empire State, where New York Attorney General Letitia James has been vying to drive the former president's business from the state. Trump has repeatedly blasted James' investigation as politically motivated. Also in New York, a jury ordered Trump to pay more than $83 million in the defamation case brought by his accuser, E. Jean Carroll, but Trump's legal team has vowed to appeal the civil judgment.
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Trump's remarks come amid a report claiming New York City will soon launch a $53 million pilot program to hand out pre-paid credit cards to migrant families housed in hotels.
The New York Post, citing city records, reported on Saturday that 500 migrant families at the Roosevelt Hotel will receive pre-paid cards to help them buy food. The program is intended to replace the current food service provided there, the Post reported.
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"Not only will this provide families with the ability to purchase fresh food for their culturally relevant diets and the baby supplies of their choosing, but the pilot program is expected to save New York City more than $600,000 per month, or more than $7.2 million annually," a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams told the newspaper in a statement.
The Big Apple was also riddled with controversy after a gang of migrants beat New York City Police Department officers in Times Square. One of those illegal migrants involved, 22-year-old Jhoan Boada, flipped two middle fingers to news cameras after he was released from a police precinct following his arrest over the attack.
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Authorities reportedly believe at least four more of those migrants arrested and released after the incident have since fled on a bus bound for California.