President Trump said during an exclusive Oval Office interview on Thursday that his campaign “Put New York in play” against Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Trump told The Post that he believes a spike in violent crime and high taxes could help him win his home state in an uprising against Biden and running mate Kamala Harris.
‘In the last six months, something crazy has happened. It’s stupid. That we’ll be trying very hard to win New York and that will be the first time – is that, since I think Ronald Reagan? “Since Ronald Reagan,” Trump said.
‘I’ll bring taxes and I’ll make sure New York City is a safe place. I mean, this is one of our cherished – this is a cherished diamond of this land. And we can not do this with New York. ”
The president said his campaign would spend money on efforts to win New York and that he plans to stop campaigning. He based the performance of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“We will invest in it, we will try. “I’ll put it on the list as you know it,” Trump said. “For example, we think we will win New Mexico, we think we will win Minnesota. We think we are, we might have a shot at Virginia because they have a very, very foreign mayor. “
Trump called on the Oval Office’s White House Political Director Brian Jack, who told The Post he believed Republicans had a good chance of whipping up at least some congressional cities.
“The first thing I say is look at the convention games, and New York, you have at least three, four, maybe even five competitive seats. And some of those seats did the president by very wide margins. You look at New York 11, New York 19, there are also quite a few opportunities in upstate, ”Jack said.
Trump interviewed: “Pick up a lot.”
‘I think we can pick up something, five seats? And that is in addition to trying to win. “I think we can raise a lot of seats,” Trump added.
Trump made a map of the results of the 2016 presidential election in New York.
The map showed most counties in red, meaning he won them, despite the state losing 22 points to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump threw the paper on the Resolute Desk to reporters from The Post. Helpers also had copies of the card and issued them as well. Clinton devastated Trump in 2016 in New York. She received 59 percent of the vote. Trump received 36.5 percent.
Trump acknowledged that winning New York was an emerging battle, but called for an increase in crime and an increase in taxes.
In New York City, “shootings are double, murders, everything is doubled and dispelled. And I have heard numbers, 244 percent about some types of crime. Which is 277 percent [for shootings]? “Trump said.
‘I will solve the crime problem. I will solve their tax problem. I will solve all their problems. Who would not vote for me? ” he said. “We will investigate SALT, we will investigate crime, we will look at all things and solve the problems – of many problems they have in New York.”
He continued: “We have been doing well lately, but for a Republican it is more than 50 percent available. But we put New York in play. We will play it very strong and very hard. And we will try to win New York. ”
A spokesman for Gov. Cuomo disputes Trump’s claims about taxes in New York State.
“President Trump must stop lying. All income tax rates are lower today than when Governor Cuomo took office – the only person who increased New York State taxes was Trump with SALT, ‘said Cuomo Communications Director Peter Ajemian.
Although Trump lost the state significantly in 2016, he said he has seen “real polls” that show he is doing well.
‘We’ll be making a very strong move in New York. Because upstate, Long Island, you know everything outside the core, I get a large majority of the votes, ‘he said.
‘I think we have a great shot. I think we have a very good shot, now it is typically not in play, but we will put a strong movement on New York. We might as well do it in New Jersey. ”
Trump vowed to “look closely” at an attempt by GE union members in Schenectady, NY, who want him to demand that three power plant generators be commissioned by the Tennessee Valley Authority to build in their facility instead of overseas. “Get me that information, yes I will do it,” he said.
The president has repeatedly complained that he is serious about winning New York.
‘I think we have a very good chance. Who can be happy if you live in Manhattan and your taxes go through the roof? And your livelihood is low, and they’re defending the police? ” he said.
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