President Donald Trump appealed directly to Jewish voters in New York on Tuesday as the US midterm elections unfolded, urging the community in Monsey and nearby neighborhoods to support Republican Congressman Mike Lawler.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump recalled the backing he received from the area during the last presidential race. "The Jewish community in Monsey, New York, and its surrounding neighborhoods, voted in very big numbers for me in our Historic 2024 Presidential Campaign. TREMENDOUS SUPPORT!" he wrote, adding that "TODAY, the eyes of the Country are on New York again!"
Trump described Lawler as a "tremendous friend to the Jewish community and a strong leader in the fight against antisemitism," saying the congressman had "stood with the community when it mattered most, speaking out against hatred, and standing up for Religious Freedom and School Choice!"
Lawler is seeking reelection in a suburban New York district that Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 presidential election, making the race one of the more closely watched contests of the midterms.
"Mike has worked tirelessly for his constituents, for our Country, and for the Jewish people," Trump wrote, crediting him with understanding "the importance of strong leadership, protecting our communities, and delivering REAL RESULTS for the people he represents."
The endorsement placed combating antisemitism at the center of the pitch to Jewish voters, an issue that has grown more urgent locally. Antisemitic hate crimes in New York had risen 8.5% by August 2026 compared with the previous year, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported, citing figures from the New York Police Department. Over the same period, shootings and murders in New York City fell to historic lows.
The endorsement came a day after four Jewish school buses in the Williamsburg neighborhood were spray-painted with antisemitic and anti-Zionist graffiti on Monday, including slogans such as "F*** Israel," "USA first," and "Free Palestine."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the vandalism as "abhorrent" in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Every New Yorker, especially our children, deserves to live free of such hatred," he wrote.
Mamdani said his team was in contact with the NYPD and community leaders, vowing to "use every tool at our disposal to confront antisemitism, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that hatred has no place in our city." Miriam Sela-Eitam and Shira Li Bartov of JTA contributed to the original report.
