WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will likely make two recent assassination attempts a central part of his campaign.
“Death did not break my will,” Trump said at the start of a rally on New York’s Long Island on Wednesday. “Death has given me a much bigger, stronger mission. Death has only strengthened my resolve to use my time on Earth to Make America Great Again for all Americans.”
As he did at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday, Trump spoke at length about the July 13 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the arrest Sunday of a man who pointed a rifle at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
While lawmakers criticized the Secret Service’s work, Trump again invoked a higher power, praising security forces and Florida law enforcement officers at a rally at a former sports arena in Uniondale, New York.
“God has now saved my life not once but twice,” Trump said.
Other lessons from Long Island:
To Springfield
Trump said he plans to visit Springfield, Ohio, the scene of the immigration conflict that produced one of the most memorable moments of last week’s debate with Harris, when he falsely claimed Haitian immigrants were eating dogs and cats in the city, despite there being no evidence that this is actually happening.
“I’m going to be down there in the next two weeks,” Trump told supporters on Long Island. “I’m going to Springfield.”
Trump also said he plans to visit Aurora, Colorado, the scene of another immigration conflict involving misinformation.
“I love the Teamsters.”
While Trump highlighted the good news from the Teamsters, he also exaggerated the union’s actions.
“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the rank and file members of the Teamsters,” Trump said, but the union itself announced it would not officially endorse Trump or his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Teamsters released internal polling data showing a majority of their members support Trump.
The leadership’s decision to remain neutral was a setback for Harris and the Democratic Party, and a delight for President Trump.
“I love the Teamsters,” Trump said.
Iran hacking scandal resurfaces
Trump seized on news that Iran had hacked his campaign, distorted it and tried to pass campaign information to officials of then-President Joe Biden’s campaign.
The former president falsely stated that “Biden is working with Iran,” adding that “Iran doesn’t like me.” He also said that Iran stole election materials and “gave them to the Biden campaign,” which never happened.
Morgan Finkelstein, a spokesman for the Harris Waltz campaign, said in a statement that the campaign has been cooperating with authorities since learning that “individuals associated with the then-Biden campaign were targeted in this foreign power operation.”
New York: Mission Impossible?
Trump used his Long Island speech to tout the possibility of winning New York state in November’s election, but if opinion polls are to be believed, that’s nearly impossible.
Though Trump is a native New Yorker, he won less than 37% of the state’s vote in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. No Republican candidate has won New York since President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Meanwhile, New York could play a key role in the race to control the U.S. House of Representatives because it has several highly competitive districts.
Why Long Island?
The Long Island rally was originally planned as the first event following President Trump’s sentencing in New York on hush money charges, which was scheduled for Wednesday, July 18.
But earlier this month, a judge postponed the ruling until Election Day on November 5.
9/11 National Memorial
While discussing the issues in New York, President Trump offered condolences to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and praised the police, fire and emergency personnel who responded.
If elected, Trump said he would designate Ground Zero, the site of the destroyed World Trade Center, as an official national monument administered by the U.S. government.
“This will ensure that the memory of that hallowed ground and those who died there will be preserved forever,” Trump said.