‘We’re going to straighten New York out,’ former President Donald Trump said during his visit to the store.
Former President Donald Trump stopped by a Harlem bodega on Tuesday after wrapping up the second day of his hush money trial in Manhattan, pledging to “straighten New York out” if reelected in November.
A large crowd was seen in a video gathering around the bodega and chanting “four more years” as the presumptive GOP nominee arrived at Sanaa Convenience Store in Upper Manhattan on Tuesday evening.
President Trump told reporters that he loves the city but that it has “gotten so bad in the last three years, four years.”
“We’re going to straighten New York out. So running for president, we’re putting a big hit in New York. We could win New York,” the former president said.
“We’re going to come in. Number one, you have to stop crime and we’re going to let the police do their job. They have to be given back their authority. They have to be able to do their job,” he added.
The store he visited was the site of a violent attack on Jose Alba, the store clerk who was charged with murder after fatally stabbing an attacker in self-defense in July 2022. The case has drawn public criticism of the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who oversees the office now prosecuting President Trump.
Mr. Alba, 61, killed Austin Simon, 35, after the latter went behind the counter and pushed and grabbed Mr. Alba. The footage showed Mr. Alba trying to get past Mr. Simon before he stabbed the attacker several times.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg faced criticism for charging Mr. Alba with second-degree murder, initially requesting $500,000 bail, and detaining Mr. Alba at New York City’s notorious Rikers Island jail. The charges against Mr. Alba were later dropped.
During his visit, President Trump took aim at Mr. Bragg and blamed the district attorney for violence in New York City.
“You know where the crime is? In the bodegas where they come and rob them every week,” President Trump said.
“It’s Alvin Bragg’s fault. Alvin Bragg does nothing. He goes after guys like Trump who did nothing wrong. Violent criminal, murderers. They know there are hundreds of murderers all over the city. They know who they are. They don’t pick them up. They go after Trump,” he added.
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