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Trump Brings Mike Tyson Onstage at Syracuse Rally for Blakeman
ReTrump Brings Mike Tyson Onstage at Syracuse Rally for Blakeman
President Donald Trump campaigned in Syracuse for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, bringing Mike Tyson onstage and joking that the former heavyweight champion was providing the candidate with personal security.
President Donald Trump brought former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson onstage during a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, as he stumped for Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor. Tyson had visited the White House earlier in the day and traveled to Syracuse aboard Air Force One alongside the president, adding a celebrity presence to a race that will determine whether Gov. Kathy Hochul remains in office.
From the podium, Trump drew attention to Tyson in the audience and joked that the boxer was there to protect Blakeman. «I see somebody in the audience that I will never fight, I promise,» Trump said. He recalled Tyson's prime years as undisputed heavyweight champion, describing him as «a very dangerous person actually» and «one of the greatest fighters in history.» Trump then cracked that Blakeman had found the right guardian: «I see him standing right next to Bruce Blakeman. Bruce wants a little protection, he's got the right guy. Bruce knows who to stand near.»
Tyson was later called up to the stage, where he offered brief remarks praising the president. «Thank you very much. I'm just happy to be here with my president, President Trump, and there's no way in the world I would ever be here if it wasn't for a president like Donald Trump. Thank you,» Tyson said. As Tyson left the stage, Trump added, «I watched him get in the ring many times. He was a scary guy. I think he looks better now than he did 30 years ago,» before joking, «What the hell are you doing, Mike?»
The rally also featured New York Yankees president Randy Levine, who appeared alongside Trump and Tyson two days after the Yankees were swept in the American League Division Series. Trump acknowledged the postseason loss but joked that it did not matter because Levine «has won so much, it's not going to matter.»
Blakeman is seeking to unseat Hochul, who has served as New York's governor since August 2021. The Syracuse stop formed part of Trump's efforts to boost the Republican ticket in his home state ahead of the gubernatorial election.
The trip came before Trump was originally scheduled to attend Saturday's Alabama-Georgia football game in Tuscaloosa, but the White House announced Friday that Hurricane Isaias had forced those plans to be scrapped. Instead, the president spent the day in New York, mixing campaign politics with a heavyweight name familiar to sports fans across the country.
Tyson's appearance underscored the overlap between celebrity, sports and electoral politics at a moment when the New York governor's race is drawing national attention. For Blakeman, the rally offered a chance to stand beside both the president and one of the most recognizable athletes in American history as he makes his case to voters.
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