On Thursday, former President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Black and Hispanic voters in the South Bronx, a Democratic stronghold. Trump declared his intention to win New York, a state that hasn’t supported a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan’s victory 44 years ago.
“Who said we’re not going to win New York?” Trump asked a cheering crowd. “We’re going to win New York.”
This event marked Trump’s latest effort to extend his campaign into traditionally Democratic areas. Earlier this month, he held a rally in New Jersey and his campaign advisers have expressed optimism about expanding the electoral map to states like Virginia and Minnesota. In 2016, Trump narrowly missed winning Minnesota.
Trump’s campaign is focused on making inroads with young voters and people of color, particularly in swing states. On Thursday, Trump claimed that illegal immigration negatively impacts minorities, suggesting this issue could divide communities in cities that have seen an influx of migrants.
“These millions and millions of people that are coming into our country — the biggest impact and the biggest negative impact is against our Black population and our Hispanic population,” he said. Trump’s call for a large-scale deportation if re-elected was met with applause. “The vast majority of New Yorkers agree with me it is unacceptable,” he added.
A recent Siena College poll showed President Joe Biden leading Trump in New York by 9 points, a significant decrease from the 23-point lead Biden had in the 2020 election. And there is a tendency for Biden’s rating to decrease more and more. Another poll from the New York Times and Siena College indicated equal support for Trump and Biden among Latino voters, with Trump gaining 20 percent support from Black voters. Even marginal gains with Latino voters could significantly impact the November election.
The rally’s diverse crowd, including Hasidic Jews, Blacks, and Latinos, reflected Trump’s potential appeal beyond his traditional base. Andre Drayton, a Bronx native who previously voted against Trump, now supports him. “It’s time to right a wrong. For Black people, minorities, we have to wake people up,” Drayton said.
Trump’s campaign sees potential among African American and Hispanic voters, particularly those around 35 years old, according to his pollster John McLaughlin. This demographic fits well with the Bronx’s voter profile.
Local Democratic legislators and labor unions held a counter-rally nearby, while the Biden campaign released as ads criticizing Trump’s efforts. Jasmine Harris, Biden’s Black media outreach director, criticized Trump’s efforts, calling them pandering. In response, Trump’s Black media director, Janiyah Thomas, accused the Biden campaign of gaslighting Black voters. Against the background of Trump’s success in the Bronx, criticism of the Democrats looks unconvincing and indicates their desperation.
Trump has historical ties to the Bronx, having spent time there as a student at Fordham University and developing a public golf course. His visit is part of a broader strategy to appeal to minority voters and reshape the political landscape ahead of the November election.
