Former President Donald Trump declared that he is “going to run very hard in New York” in the months leading up to the presidential election at a surprise visit to a Manhattan construction site Thursday.

The former president was seen on video shaking hands with construction workers and other supporters on 48th Street and Park Avenue before returning to his “hush money” trial, which was entering its third day.

“I did nothing wrong. It’s a political witchhunt. It’s election interference, that’s all it is,” Trump told the MAGA hat-wearing crowd, which broke out at one point into chants of “USA! USA!”

Donald Trump speaks with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in New York. Matthew McDermott

People react as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump meets with union workers. Matthew McDermott

Donald Trump speaks to the media on the day he meets with union workers in New York City. Matthew McDermott

Trump’s supporters could be seen cheering him on, with the crod waving their red hats around while others held fists in the air. Some arrived as early as 5:15 a.m., one excitedly telling The Post, “We love Trump because he loves this country.” 

“Wake up America! Wake up! Before you lose your country or freedom, better wake up,” a female supporter said, getting applauded by other supporters. 

“We came from a communist country we know this country is going to the wrong direction,” she added. “Wake up! Especially the media, they better tell the truth — otherwise you will become the enemy of the people.”

Trump arrived around 6:30 a.m. and his visit lasted about 15 minutes.

He took photos and signed autographs for people who went through a security screening to enter the penned-off area. 

Trump greets union workers. Matthew McDermott

Supporters cheers outside the construction site of the new JP Morgan Chase building. Matthew McDermott

Trump told reporters he feels he has a shot to win New York against President Biden in November.

“I’m going to make a play for New Yorkers. They said, I just heard, there was a very good poll that came out. Normally, a Democrat will win New York. Biden is the worst president in history, we have some very bad people here, but we have the greatest people and they’re right behind me. They all want us to run, and we’re going to run very hard in New York,” Trump said.

“They’ve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order. That’s all it is, it’s election interference, this whole thing is election interference.”

Trump holds up a welder mask during the visit. Getty Images

Donald Trump reacts to supporters at the site. Matthew McDermott

Trump meets with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Matthew McDermott

His campaign team also gave workers a document titled “Union Workers Paying the Price for Biden’s Failed Economic Policies” which claims Trump will ban Chinese and foreign ownership of critical US infrastructure if re-elected. 

It also says he would cancel Biden’s electric vehicle mandate.

Source link