What to know about Trump's upcoming campaign rally at Nassau Coliseum

Former President Donald Trump will speak at a rally inside the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 18, his campaign announced Wednesday afternoon.

The event, which local Republican leaders had been discussing recently, was set on the day he previously was expected to be sentenced in a Manhattan courtroom in his hush money criminal case. The sentencing date has been pushed back to Nov. 26 but the Trump campaign confirmed the planned rally at the Coliseum will proceed. 

Trump, who is vying for a second term after losing the 2020 presidential election, will take to the stage and is expected to talk about immigration, public safety and the cost of living. The announcement that he will visit Nassau comes the day after he faced Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the only scheduled presidential debate of their race.

Here's what to know about the rally. 

When is the rally?

Sept. 18. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the event is expected to start at 7 p.m.

Where can I get tickets?

Tickets are available online at the former president's campaign website. They're free with a limit of two per order.

Is this more than just a campaign rally?

Republican insiders have told Newsday that the event is also a campaign fundraiser. Campaign officials asked local Republican leaders for a venue that would also have space to host donors privately.

How many people can fit into Nassau Coliseum?

For a concert-style layout, the Coliseum can hold about 16,000 guests.

What are politicians saying about Trump's visit? 

Republicans are thrilled to see Trump pay a visit to Long Island as the GOP faces some competitive races in the November election.

"The president is coming to Long Island and there's great enthusiasm in Nassau and Suffolk. He'll be standing alongside Andrew Garbarino, Anthony D'Esposito and Nick LaLota and Mike LiPetri and I think it will mobilize our supporters to come out in large numbers to back our congressional candidates and the president," Nassau Republican chairman Joseph Cairo told Newsday on Wednesday.

D'Esposito, who represents the 4th Congressional District and is running for reelection, said in a statement he "looks forward to showing President Trump that this year's 'Red Wave' will reach its greatest height right here on the South Shore."

Democrats on the Island were not enthusiastic over Trump's visit to Nassau County.

D'Esposito's Democratic challenger Laura Gillen, denounced Trump's planned stopped to the Coliseum, which falls in the district she's running in.

"Just hours after Donald Trump amplified racist conspiracies against the Haitian-American community on the debate stage, he now has the audacity to announce he'll be visiting NY-04," Gillen wrote said. "Our Haitian neighbors here in Nassau County are an integral part of our community, and should be celebrated — not ostracized and slandered. If Anthony D'Esposito chooses to stand with Trump in Uniondale, he's standing against his constituents."

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.