Trump Slams Nobel Committee at New York Rally as Iran War and Economy Loom Over Midterms
President Trump used a rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman to attack the Nobel Peace Prize, defend his economic record, and lash out at New York Attorney General Letitia James, while polls show deep voter dissatisfaction with his handling of Iran and the cost of living.
President Donald Trump used a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, to deliver a bitter attack on the Norwegian Nobel Committee for awarding the Peace Prize to South African jurist Navanethem «Navi» Pillay, a former United Nations human rights chief honored for her work on justice and accountability for war crimes and genocide. Trump told the crowd he «should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t,» calling the decision «an indelible stain on the country of Norway.»
The president described Pillay as «a liberal person who works at the United Nations who nobody has ever heard of,» and claimed the prize had been «forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilization.» He added, «And we will not forget, Norway.»
The diatribe came as the war with Iran that Trump and Israel started remains unsettled, despite his prediction it would last mere weeks. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted last month and published Oct. 1 found 71% of U.S. adults disapproved of Trump’s handling of Iran, with 28% approving. The conflict has pushed gas prices higher, and polls show voters blame Trump for the high cost of living.
Trump has repeatedly claimed to have ended eight wars, though some of the conflicts he cites were merely tensions and his role in easing them has been disputed. The unresolved Iran conflict is weighing on his party as Republicans face a dour electorate ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with the president’s unpopularity threatening their congressional majorities.
The rally was intended to promote Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee in the New York governor’s race and Nassau County executive. But Trump spent much of his time on unrelated grievances, including a lengthy attack on New York Attorney General Letitia James, a prominent adversary who brought civil charges against him and his business. A court found Trump liable for fraud, and while an appeals court threw out the massive financial penalty, it upheld the fraud finding. From the stage at the Oncenter, Trump called James «a dog.»
Trump also criticized Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is seeking her second full term. Hochul has emphasized Blakeman’s ties to Trump, mirroring the national Democratic strategy of tying Republican candidates to the president’s dismal approval ratings. In a sarcastic press release, her campaign described Trump’s visit as «an extremely boring puppet show» and said Blakeman «begged him to do so.»
Blakeman, who has suggested Democrats might steal the election and posted AI-generated videos depicting the state as dangerous and unaffordable, argues he is winning over Democrats and independents by presenting himself as the moderate candidate. He dismisses the idea that his closeness with Trump could hurt him in blue New York. «I am somebody who takes every issue and makes a decision based on good advice from smart people and common sense,» Blakeman said in an interview. «I’ve proved my independence over and over and over again. I make my own decisions. I call my own shots.»
Much of the first half of the rally, held just 25 days before the midterms, was devoted to convincing voters that the economy is strong. «The poverty rate has just reached its lowest level, the best number,» Trump said. «Lowest level in American history.» He added, «The job numbers are the best. The stock market has soared.» Gas prices have fallen a few cents per gallon in the last week but remain about 15 cents higher than a month ago, according to AAA. Trump briefly called on oil retailers to «start dropping their prices now.»
The latest AP-NORC poll found only 26% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, a new low, down from 32% in July. Just 17% approved of his handling of the cost of living. Trump has largely steered clear of political battlegrounds, focusing on red states and friendly crowds as Republicans worry his unpopularity could drag down the party. The most closely watched U.S. House race in New York is several hours away from Syracuse, where Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is trying to fend off Democratic candidate Cait Conley.
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