Trump rallies Syracuse supporters at The Oncenter
Trump rallies Syracuse supporters at The Oncenter
In his first visit in 10 years, the president stumps for Republican candidates weeks before the midterms.
A line of Trump supporters in red MAGA hats snaked outside The Oncenter on Friday, with some waiting nearly two hours to see the president.
Trump’s appearance in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman marked his first visit to Syracuse in nearly a decade. It came just weeks before November’s midterm elections and attracted significant attention from news outlets, his supporters and his opponents.
Beneath a beautiful fall afternoon sky, Trump supporters shared what they hoped to hear from the president.
“For [Trump] to say ‘Hello to Kathy Hochul,’ with a little extra ‘hello,’” a Syracuse man said. His wife quickly repeated the line. Both said they have been devoted fans of the president since his first term.
Many in the crowd made the trip from Utica, Albany, Binghamton and farther to see him in person.
No Republican has won a statewide election in New York since 2002, when George Pataki was re-elected to his third term as governor. In Onondaga County, 112,863 residents are registered as Democrat, while 87,354 are registered as Republican as of early 2026, according to the New York State Board of Elections.
Trump’s presence was meant to energize his supporters to cast ballots this November for fellow Republican campaigns like Blakeman’s and congressional candidate Kailee Buller, whom he publicly endorsed.
Outside the Oncenter, vendors dotted the parking lot, selling MAGA-themed merchandise to attendees.
“I’d like to hear that he [Trump] is still going to support our freedom, and other things he promised us back in 2016,” said Carrie Christman, a vendor who traveled more than two hours for Friday’s event
Christman is a board member for SCOPE, a grassroots Second Amendment defense organization based in East Aurora near Buffalo.
Ed Cox, chair of the New York Republican state committee, opened the program, walking out to “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses. Cox’s remarks centered on the work Trump has pushed for concerning immigration and his support for republican nominees Blakeman and Buller alike.
Local Republican officials and candidates were largely absent from the event, with Syracuse.com reporting that only four of 16 local Republican leaders planned to attend Trump’s rally.
State Sen. Mark Walczyk, currently representing New York District 49 near Watertown, brushed off the absences.
“If it’s more important to knock on doors than to show up here, good for them,” Walczyk said. “Go get the win.”
The rally also featured Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Blakeman’s running mate and Republican candidate for lieutenant governor; Anthony Constantino, who is running for the NY-21 congressional seat; and Kailee Buller, who is running for the NY-22 congressional seat.
“I know they’re very disenfranchised with politics, I don’t blame them,” Buller said during the rally regarding young voters. “But I hope that they’ll get more engaged because we need them.”
According to Buller, “60% of my voting block is over the age of 50.”
Before President Trump’s appearance, Blakeman took to the stage and proclaimed his love for New Yorkers and the state as a whole. He made a dig at his opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, describing her as “pro-criminal.”
As of Oct. 7, Hochul leads Blakeman by 11 points among registered voters in New York, according to a poll conducted by Marist University.
Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, also addressed the Oct. 8 shooting of Oscar Belgal, 28, by an ICE agent in New York City. Belgal’s 5-year-old son was in the back seat of his car during the shooting. Blakeman pledged to end what he called New York’s sanctuary policies if elected governor, allowing greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“On Jan. 1, when I am sworn in, I will have waiting for me on my desk an executive order that states New York is no longer a sanctuary state,” Blakeman said.
Trump arrived late. As he approached the podium, his supporters cheered.
Trump criticized Democrats over their opposition to Republican-backed voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements.
“They want to cheat,” Trump said, calling Democrats “the greatest bulls— artists in the world.”
In the middle of his speech, protestors could be heard shouting and one unidentified woman was escorted out by security personnel as Trump’s supporters yelled back at her.
Trump asked his supporters in Syracuse to pretend he was on the ballot to motivate them to vote. He also repeated his promise to give $5,000 to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in November’s elections.
Several spectators left the event midway through Trump’s speech, with some confronting protesters outside the event. Syracuse police officers stood along State, Madison and Harrison streets to help manage the crowd as the event ended.
is a News Lead Producer for The NewsHouse.
is the Visual Lead Producer for The NewsHouse.
is the Visual Lead Producer for The NewsHouse.