Union workers cheer Trump’s return to NYC after he stopped at construction site: ‘They say unions aren’t big for Trump — well they are’

Donald Trump meets with construction workers who erupted into chants of ‘USA!’ before ‘hush money’ trial
Donald Trump meets with construction workers who erupted into chants of 'USA!' before 'hush money' trial
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Donald Trump vowed Thursday he is “going to run very hard in New York” during a surprise visit to a Manhattan construction site ahead of his court appearance.

And union workers are “all about” the former president, they told The Post.

Trump shook hands with the workers and other supporters on 48th Street and Park Avenue before returning to his “hush money” trial, which was entering its third day.

Both Trump and President Biden — likely rivals in the 2024 presidential race — are in the city this week, with Biden headed for a fundraiser in Westchest County on Thursday night.

“I did nothing wrong. It’s a political witchhunt. It’s election interference, that’s all it is,” Trump told the MAGA hat-wearing crowd, which broke out at one point into chants of “USA! USA!”

Donald Trump speaks with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in New York. Matthew McDermott
Donald Trump speaks with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in New York. Matthew McDermott
People react as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump meets with union workers. Matthew McDermott
People react as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump meets with union workers. Matthew McDermott
Donald Trump speaks to the media on the day he meets with union workers in New York City. Matthew McDermott
Donald Trump speaks to the media on the day he meets with union workers in New York City. Matthew McDermott

While Trump supporters flooded the site, workers who were still hard at work on the job there seemed equally thrilled to see the former president.

Darren Gould, 58, a general foreman carpenter from Wanaque, NJ, said he feels Trump is “gonna come back” and “get this country back on its feet.”

“Trump got a great reception. They say unions aren’t big for Trump — well they are. Maybe the top union brass aren’t but when you talk to the men on the construction site, they’re all about Trump,” he told The Post.

Gould insisted if Trump isn’t re-elected America will be “in big trouble.”

“Of course, Trump is spending the day in court, because he’s leading all the polls, and Biden’s off fundraising,” he said.

“Biden doesn’t know what he’s talking about, all he does is read off cue cards, and he gets that wrong half the time.”

Basil Persaud, 48, from Hollis, Queens, agreed, telling The Post, “Trump at least cares about the people. He’s at a construction site, why’s Biden with celebrities?”

Persaud, a sheet metal worker, said he wasn’t following Trump’s court case but that he felt “they’re always trying to get him on something.”

“It doesn’t change my mind on him,” he added.

Trump greets union workers. Matthew McDermott
Trump greets union workers. Matthew McDermott
Supporters cheers outside the construction site of the new JP Morgan Chase building. Matthew McDermott
Supporters cheers outside the construction site of the new JP Morgan Chase building. Matthew McDermott

“I like Trump. Trump’s good for the economy. The administration now, they’re not doing a good job. We have high inflation and what’s happening at the border is too crazy, it’s ridiculous.”

At least one construction worker was less pleased though, one unnamed worker telling The Post “Yeah, f–k Trump.”

Trump’s supporters could be seen cheering him on, with the crowd waving their red hats around while others held fists in the air. Some arrived as early as 5:15 a.m., one excitedly telling The Post, “We love Trump because he loves this country.”

“Wake up America! Wake up! Before you lose your country or freedom, better wake up,” a female supporter said, getting applauded by other supporters.

“We came from a communist country we know this country is going to the wrong direction,” she added. “Wake up! Especially the media, they better tell the truth — otherwise you will become the enemy of the people.”

Trump arrived around 6:30 a.m. and his visit lasted about 15 minutes.

He took photos and signed autographs for people who went through a security screening to enter the penned-off area.

Trump told reporters he feels he has a shot to win New York against President Biden in November.

“I’m going to make a play for New Yorkers. They said, I just heard, there was a very good poll that came out. Normally, a Democrat will win New York. Biden is the worst president in history, we have some very bad people here, but we have the greatest people and they’re right behind me. They all want us to run, and we’re going to run very hard in New York,” Trump said.

“They’ve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order. That’s all it is, it’s election interference, this whole thing is election interference.”

Trump holds up a welder mask during the visit. Getty Images
Trump holds up a welder mask during the visit. Getty Images
Donald Trump reacts to supporters at the site. Matthew McDermott
Donald Trump reacts to supporters at the site. Matthew McDermott
Trump meets with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Matthew McDermott
Trump meets with construction workers at the construction site of the new JPMorgan Chase headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, Thursday, April 25, 2024. Matthew McDermott

His campaign team also gave workers a document titled “Union Workers Paying the Price for Biden’s Failed Economic Policies” which claims Trump will ban Chinese and foreign ownership of critical US infrastructure if re-elected.

It also says he would cancel Biden’s electric vehicle mandate.