President Donald Trump used a visit to Nassau County on Friday to tout falling crime rates and endorse County Executive Bruce Blakeman's bid for governor, while more than 100 protesters gathered nearby to criticize the administration's policies on immigration, healthcare and affordability.
Trump spoke at the Nassau County Police Department's David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Uniondale, where he praised local law enforcement and repeatedly pointed to Nassau County as a model for public safety.
“Nassau County has been rated the number one safest county in America,” Trump said, citing a U.S. News & World Report ranking. He also praised Blakeman, saying, “We'll get Bruce in there. We'll change it around,” as he urged New Yorkers to support the county executive's gubernatorial campaign.
Blakeman, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, called Nassau County “the safest county in America” during his remarks and credited local and federal law enforcement cooperation for the county's crime record.
Blakeman also highlighted Nassau's agreement with federal immigration authorities, saying the county had removed about 2,000 immigrants with criminal records in one year. He cited cases involving attempted murder, rape, robbery, carjacking and drug dealing as examples of the people he said had been removed.
Trump's remarks largely focused on crime, immigration and his administration's support for law enforcement. He cited newly released FBI statistics that he said showed the largest reduction in violent crime in American history in 2025, along with additional declines in murders and robberies in 2026.
He also criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York's criminal justice policies, particularly its bail laws and immigration policies, while praising Blakeman's record.
Outside the police training center, meanwhile, more than 100 protesters gathered at the designated protest area on Endo Boulevard.
The rally was organized with the participation of Nassau County Democratic Party officials, community leaders and residents. Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington led protesters in chants, including, “This is what America looks like today and we're not going away.”
Lt. Gov. candidate Adrienne Adams was among the speakers. She criticized both Trump and Blakeman, saying Blakeman was “his biggest cheerleader” and urging voters to reject what she described as their extremism.
“Keeping our community safe doesn't stop at law enforcement,” Adams said, arguing that public safety also includes healthcare, dignity and the ability to afford essential care.
Adams also criticized Trump's healthcare and food assistance policies and said Blakeman would take Medicaid cuts further.
Sen. Siela Bynoe and other Nassau County elected officials and community leaders also addressed the crowd, with speakers focusing on the cost of living, healthcare, immigration and ICE enforcement.
For supporters inside the Trump event, however, public safety remained the central message.
Nikolai Glushkov, 23, founder of the Glen Cove Young Republicans, attended the rally to support Trump, Blakeman and congressional candidate Michael LiPetri Jr.
Glushkov, a lifelong Nassau County resident, said he was encouraged by what he heard about crime reductions.
“I took away his [President Trump’s] impact on the national level on keeping the crime safe in Nassau County, reducing that along with Blakeman,” Glushkov said.
Glushkov said he believes Nassau's record under Blakeman can serve as a model for the rest of New York.
“We are the safest county and we gotta make New York State the safest state this November,” he said.
The competing rallies underscored the political divide surrounding Trump's visit, with his supporters emphasizing crime and law enforcement while opponents argued that public safety must also encompass healthcare, affordability and immigration policy.
