President Donald Trump, appearing in a toss-up congressional district in New York on Friday, began testing his midterm message ostensibly focused on the economy. However, he quickly veered off-topic, launching into tangents about voter identification, crime in cities, transgender women in sports, and his new moniker for the opposition party, "Dumocrats." He also complained about toiletries being locked up in pharmacies and polled the audience on what to call former President Joe Biden.
Eventually, Trump returned to the speech's theme, telling the crowd that he and his party worked to slash taxes and increase take-home pay, while Democrats opposed the effort at every turn. "I cut your taxes, cut the taxes on workers, families, small business, who are the soul of this state," he said at Rockland Community College. Listing tax law provisions, he added, "These are all Republican tax cuts. The Democrats voted against every one of these tax cuts."
Event with Rep. Mike Lawler
Trump traveled to the Hudson Valley to appear with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who faces a tough reelection in one of the most closely watched House races this November. The event promoted the tax law Trump signed last year, particularly the quadrupling of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, critical in high-tax New York. Trump called Lawler "fantastic" and joked he was a "pain in the ass" for pushing the deduction. Lawler thanked Trump for "working with me to deliver a big win" for his district, noting over 90% of constituents could fully deduct their taxes.
Also appearing was Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Trump-backed Republican candidate for New York governor. Trump said, "Guys like Mike Lawler, guys like Bruce Blakeman, you put them in, they'll turn it around."
Slumping Approval Rating
The White House seeks to highlight Trump's economic accomplishments as his approval rating on the economy has slumped. About one-third of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy, down from 40% at the start of his second term, per an AP-NORC poll. Gasoline prices have surged this year due to the war in Iran.
Lawler is one of three House Republicans representing a district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024. Unlike the others, he has embraced Trump to avoid alienating Republican voters. "The people who hate the president ... are likely never voting for me," Lawler told the AP. "I have a record in my district that appeals to a broad middle." Wearing a "Mr. SALT" cap, he said, "I am confident I will be reelected on my own merits."
Competitive House Race
Trump endorsed Lawler last year, seen as a move to keep him in the House race rather than run for governor. Five Democrats vie for the nomination to challenge Lawler; the primary is June 23. A DCCC spokesperson said, "Nothing says 'I don't understand my district' like Mike Lawler bringing Donald Trump to NY-17 to tout a disastrous economy." NRCC chairman Richard Hudson countered that Trump's appearance will "absolutely" help, noting his poll numbers are good in Lawler's district.
The event was an official White House event, not a campaign one, according to Lawler, who said over 5,000 people registered to attend in the first 12 hours.
