Trump backs NY Senate hopeful Sapraicone — even though candidate donated to ex-prez’s nemesis AG Letitia James

Donald Trump is endorsing GOPer Mike Sapraicone to take on Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — even though Sapraicone has donated to his nemesis, state Attorney General Letitia James.

Trump’s backing of Sapraicone — a 67-year-old retired detective who runs a private security firm — undercuts critics such as ex-Long Island Rep. Peter King, who has blasted the Senate hopeful for having his firm Squad Security donate $1,000 to James’ re-election campaign March 8, 2022.

James’ office was actively investigating Trump at the time.

King called Sapraicone’s donation “indefensible” after James recently won a judgment against Trump in a civil case that ended with the ex-president ordered to pay a staggering $355 million.

King — who has close ties to Long Island’s Nassau County Republican Party — said Sapraicone should step aside because having him on the ticket would hurt first-term GOP House incumbents who face tough re-election battles in Long Island and upstate in November.

But Trump — who as a businessman donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates — gave Sapraicone a full-throated endorsement against Gillibrand, 57, on his Truth Social site Saturday night.

“Congratulations to Mike Sapraicone on running against one of the worst Senators in the U.S. Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand. All you have to do is go back and look at her failed Presidential run, an embarrassment to all New Yorkers, after which I assumed she would never be able to even think about running for Office again,” Trump wrote.

“People’s memories, however, are short, and here we go! Mike is a strong and successful person, and I look forward to working with him to take New York State away from the people who have destroyed it with hundreds of thousands of Migrants flowing in, and ruining our Schools, Hospitals, Parks, and increasing Crime many fold. Good luck to Mike – He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Sapraicone has already secured the GOP nomination with 84% of the vote of delegates at the Republican Party convention last month with no serious opposition. Others who expressed interest in running — TV’s “The Biggest Loser” trainer Cara Castronuova and Josh Eisen — failed to muster support to qualify for ballot status without having to petition for voter signatures.

“There is a lot on the ballot this Election Day — socialism or freedom are the choices. I will work hard for Americans because they deserve nothing less,” Sapraicone said.

The Gillibrand campaign intends to hang Trump around Sapraicone’s neck. Gillibrand seeking a third full term after serving out the leftover term of former New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton when Clinton was appointed secretary of state in 2009.

“That Sapraicone would accept the endorsement of former President Trump, the person responsible for repealing the SALT deduction, shows how completely out of touch he is with New York voters,” said Gillibrand campaign spokesman Evan Lukaske, referring to the State and Local Tax Deduction.

“Whether it’s MAGA Mike or any of the other extreme Republican candidates, Senator Gillibrand is confident she’ll win reelection this fall.”