Former President Donald Trump got a loud and warm reception Thursday from construction workers in midtown Manhattan before another day in his hush money trial.
Mr. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, is using his extended stay in the borough to campaign where he can, even if it includes stops in the Democratic stronghold of New York.
He lost the Empire State by 23 points in 2020 but is cheered by polls suggesting he trails by far less this time in his November rematch with President Biden.
“We’re going to make a play for New York,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re gonna give it a shot.”
Mr. Trump got cheers and hoots of approval at the construction site for the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters, hoping to show off his appeal among blue-collar workers even as Mr. Biden tries to lock down union support.
“He’s the worst president in the history of our country,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Biden. “Jimmy Carter is very happy because his presidency was brilliant by comparison.”
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Mr. Trump then headed south of Chinatown for another day in court in a drab criminal courtroom, where former National Enquirer executive David Pecker will resume testimony about his publication’s efforts to capture and kill unflattering stories about Mr. Trump near the 2016 election.
Prosecutors say the catch-and-kill scheme spiraled into a conspiracy involving payoffs and illegal business transactions to conceal the alleged scheme.
Speaking in the courthouse hallway, Mr. Trump said he planned to do rallies in the South Bronx and at Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan.
“We’re going to be doing a rally at Madison Square Garden … honoring police and honoring the firemen and everybody,” he said. “A lot of people, including teachers – we’re honoring teachers.”
Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and says the case is designed to thwart his presidential campaign.
State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan could say Thursday whether he intends to fine Mr. Trump for alleged violations of a gag order that barred the president from commenting about witnesses or jurors.
Asked if he’d pay any fine, Mr. Trump said, “Oh, I have no idea.”
“They’ve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order, that’s all it is,” Mr. Trump said.