President Trump hit the stage at Rockland Community College Friday for his first New York rally since the 2024 election, backing Representative Mike Lawler's re-election bid in the 17th Congressional District. The district, which Kamala Harris narrowly won in 2024, stretches from conservative Rockland County into Democratic-leaning Westchester.

Trump praised new Federal Reserve chair Kevin M. Warsh and called Lawler "Mr. Salt" for raising the SALT cap from $10,000 to $40,000 under the president's signature bill. Five days earlier, Lawler faced a hostile crowd at a Dutchess County town hall where a woman said she lost health coverage despite saving $2,800 on taxes.

Lawler must prove he can deliver for moderates while maintaining Republican loyalty. Trump's approval ratings have hit the lowest of his presidency amid backlash over a $1.8 billion Jan. 6 slush fund and gas price spikes tied to U.S. intervention in Iran.