President Donald Trump campaigned in Syracuse on behalf of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, bringing former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson along for the trip.
Tyson had visited the White House earlier in the day and traveled with Trump to Syracuse aboard Air Force One. During the rally, Trump pointed him out in the crowd and recalled his career in the ring.
“I see somebody in the audience that I will never fight, I promise. But I remember when Mike [Tyson] was in his prime, when he was the heavyweight champion of the world. He’d stand in the corner and his people would all be holding him back. He wanted to kill whoever it was,” Trump said. “He was a very dangerous person actually, and he was one of the greatest fighters in history.”
Trump then joked that Tyson was serving as security for Blakeman, who was standing nearby.
“I see him standing right next to Bruce Blakeman. Bruce wants a little protection, he’s got the right guy. Bruce knows who to stand near,” Trump said.
Tyson was later called up on stage to address the crowd.
“Thank you very much. I’m just happy to be here with my president, President Trump, and there’s no way in the world I would ever be here if it wasn’t for a president like Donald Trump. Thank you,” Tyson said.
As Tyson left the stage, Trump added more praise, saying, “I watched him get in the ring many times. He was a scary guy. I think he looks better now than he did 30 years ago. What the hell are you doing, Mike?”
New York Yankees president Randy Levine also joined Trump and Tyson at the event, two days after the Yankees were swept in the American League Division Series. Trump referenced the loss but brushed it off, saying of the Yankees’ broader success that “he’s won so much, it’s not going to matter.”
Blakeman is seeking to unseat Governor Kathy Hochul, who has led New York since August 2021.
Trump had originally planned to attend Saturday’s Alabama-Georgia football game in Tuscaloosa, but the White House announced Friday that those plans were scrapped because of Hurricane Isaias.
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