President Donald Trump headlined a campaign rally in Syracuse on Friday to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who is challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, and brought along an unusual guest: former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
Tyson traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One and appeared earlier in the day at a White House press briefing before joining the president on stage at the rally.
“I’m just happy to be up here with my president, President Trump. There’s NO WAY in the world I would ever be here if it wasn’t for a president like Donald Trump. Thank you!”
Trump responded by joking, “I don’t want to fight him.”
The rally came the same day as news broke of the death of Chicago Bears Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka at 86. Asked about it, Trump said, “He was a great guy. He was with me all the way. He was tough. That’s a sad one — you’re just telling me that now for the first time… Wow. He was great.”
Trump used much of his speech to urge voters to back Blakeman over Hochul, criticizing the incumbent governor on taxes, utility costs and public safety in New York. He pledged federal backing if Blakeman wins.
“[Blakeman will] save this state. He’ll turn the state around and I’ll help him from the White House. I’ll be helping him for governor,” Trump said.
Trump argued that expanding domestic energy production under a Blakeman administration could lower costs for New York families. Blakeman faces a difficult path to unseat Hochul in a state that has reliably voted Democratic in recent statewide elections.
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