Former President Donald J. Trump made his first campaign stop since his criminal trial in Manhattan began, visiting a bodega in Harlem on Tuesday. During his visit, he criticized the district attorney prosecuting him and emphasized his tough-on-crime stance, a key theme of his 2024 campaign.
The bodega was the location of a case that sparked controversy for Manhattan’s district attorney, involving an employee who was charged after fatally stabbing a man following a confrontation. This visit highlighted the contrast between Mr. Trump’s courtroom proceedings and his public appearance.
Mr. Trump took the opportunity to criticize the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, for being soft on crime and to promote his “law and order” message. He tried to distinguish his tough-on-crime rhetoric from the felony charges he faces in multiple cases, framing the charges as political persecution.
Despite being under a gag order regarding his New York case, Mr. Trump openly criticized Mr. Bragg and the judge overseeing his trial. His campaign also attacked Mr. Bragg’s handling of the bodega incident, where charges against the employee were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence.
During his visit, Mr. Trump met with the store owner, the employee’s lawyer, and the founder of the Bodega and Small Business Association. He continued to criticize liberal politicians and advocate for strict law enforcement policies in Democratic-run cities.
Before leaving, Mr. Trump took photos with uniformed New York police officers and reiterated his criticism of President Biden’s handling of the border crisis. He argued that the surge of migrants was negatively impacting people of color by taking away job opportunities.
While some of his supporters resonated with his messages, there were also protesters present during his visit. Despite the mixed reception, Mr. Trump expressed his intention to campaign more in New York and hold additional events after his courtroom appearances.
Campaign aides are planning rallies on days when the trial is on pause, and Mr. Trump is expected to continue holding events on weekends. His trial is projected to last at least six weeks, with Mr. Trump being present in the courtroom during sessions.
Overall, Mr. Trump’s visit to Harlem was seen as a strategic move to garner support for his 2024 campaign, with more public appearances expected in the coming weeks.
Lacretia McNeil, a spectator at the event, noted that Mr. Trump’s visit to Harlem was aimed at rallying voters. As Mr. Trump’s trial progresses, he is anticipated to engage in more public events like the bodega stop, particularly on evenings after court sessions.
Bernard Mokam contributed reporting to this article.
