President Donald Trump took his midterm campaign push into upstate New York, stumping for a Republican gubernatorial candidate given little chance of winning.
The rally in Syracuse marks a notable shift for Trump, who has largely concentrated his campaign appearances in reliably red states during the final stretch before Election Day.
Trump has made stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Nebraska over the past week, all states he carried in his 2024 presidential victory.
The president is using his Syracuse appearance to boost Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, whose prospects look dim heading into the election.
Nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ gave Blakeman just a 10 percent chance of winning as of Thursday night, making the race a steep uphill climb.
Trump’s decision to visit a state with such unfavorable odds signals an unusually aggressive effort to expand Republican gains wherever possible this cycle.
After New York, the president is scheduled to hold rallies in Tennessee and Alabama this weekend, followed by a trip to Alaska the following week.
The campaign swing comes alongside a major foreign policy announcement from Trump involving a large-scale diesel fuel agreement with Russia.
Trump announced that President Vladimir Putin agreed to send significant quantities of Russian diesel fuel to American and global markets amid soaring fuel prices.
“I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement is likely to draw intense scrutiny from lawmakers and analysts who have long debated the implications of deepening energy ties with Moscow.
Elevated fuel prices have emerged as a central economic concern heading into the midterms, giving Trump political motivation to pursue supply-side solutions ahead of Election Day.
