LI Republicans ride the Trump train
Former President Donald Trump speaks a rally at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Wednesday. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
Even after being voted out of the presidency nearly four years ago, Donald Trump managed to keep control of the national Republican Party and claim the nomination for a third time. So when he held the latest of his voluble rallies Wednesday at Nassau Coliseum, the 45th president looked to hitch up those below him on the November ticket who ride on his bandwagon.
Trump plays the role of a hybrid party boss and performer. While in town, he handed out goodies of praise, support, and possible future opportunities to the loyal. For Republicans in both Long Island counties, kudos from the boss were earned via success in regional and local elections of recent years.
Most of Long Island's GOP eagerly basked in the glow.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who made waves in 2022 with an impressive challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul, loomed large at the rally. Trump said of him: "He helped me a lot ... He’s a big part of our campaign and I want to bring him to Washington with us. He’s a great lawyer."
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani took his time at the rostrum to hail a friend and ally, Robert Costello of Manhasset, who recently became the county attorney for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
In his speech, alleging a vast Democratic "conspiracy" against Trump, the ex-mayor hailed the newly hired Costello’s role in helping publicize the famous Hunter Biden laptop that Trump’s campaign tried to make an "October surprise" in 2020.
Nobody in the party faithful would have had the bad manners to point out that only a year ago, Costello was suing the now-disbarred and indicted Giuliani to collect unpaid bills for defending him against federal investigations and litigation. "It's a real shame when lawyers do things like this," Giuliani said then.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s Fourth Congressional District race is top priority for the county GOP. Of Nassau and state Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs’ saying down ballot candidates are tied to Trump, D’Esposito said: "You’re damn right! I stand for a secure border. I stand for backing law enforcement. I stand for growing our economy. I stand for putting America first!"
In this secure Republican space, nobody had to answer for Trump recently defaming Haitian migrants by saying they eat the neighbors’ household pets in Springfield, Ohio, or other wild claims.
For his part, Rep. Nick LaLota boasted he was the first congressman in a "purple" district to endorse Trump earlier this year. Republican Mike LiPetri, facing Rep. Tom Suozzi in the Third Congressional District, also spoke.
Noticeably absent was Rep. Andrew Garbarino, first elected in 2020 when Trump lost. Garbarino expressed regrets Thursday that he needed to be in Washington working on legislative matters. But he still backs Trump.
But for Blakeman, this was a cherished moment in the limelight. "Welcome to Woodstock, Nassau County-style!" Blakeman greeted rallygoers. "Peace, love and Donald Trump!"
Forty-six minutes into his own speech, Trump strayed from the text and said: "Bruce! How good is Bruce. Blakeman. One of the greatest. He won in an upset! ... He’s done such a good job he’s now unbeatable. They don’t even run anybody against him."
Not entirely true, but nice of Trump to say. At this point, the local GOP cannot disembark the Trump train even if they wish. The die is cast.
Columnist Dan Janison's opinions are his own.
Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.