Trump is expected to tour the Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City with Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel before holding a news conference focused on public safety.
The FBI's preliminary 2025 crime data shows violent crime fell an estimated 9.3% nationwide compared with 2024, including an 18.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter. The FBI has described the figures as the largest single-year decreases in violent crime and murder since 1937.
Trump's visit is also expected to bring attention to Blakeman's campaign for governor. The president has endorsed Blakeman in his race against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The visit comes as a new Siena poll shows Hochul leading Blakeman by 10 points, 49% to 39%. The race has narrowed from a Siena poll released in June, when Hochul held a 20-point lead.
Crime has also emerged as an issue in the race. The latest Siena poll found Hochul with a narrow advantage over Blakeman when voters were asked which candidate they trusted more to keep New Yorkers safe from crime.
Hochul's campaign has pushed back against Blakeman's record on public safety in Nassau County, citing crime data reported to the state and arguing that murders in the county have reached their highest rate since 2010.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder disputed the campaign's characterization of crime in the county, saying major crime has continued to decline.
"2024, we lowered major crime by 9.5%. 2025, we lowered crime again by 10.5%, major crime," Ryder said Thursday. "Today, this morning's numbers that I gave to the county executive, were down another 4% in major crime, in every single category across the board."
Friday's presidential visit is expected to bring protests, road closures and heightened security to the Garden City area.
Lt. Gov. candidate Adrienne Adams is expected to join protesters Friday morning. Authorities have established a designated protest zone near Stewart Avenue and Endo Boulevard, about a half-mile from the police academy.
Officials have not released specific road closures for security reasons, but drivers are being urged to avoid the area as Trump's visit gets underway.
"If you can avoid the area, avoid the area," Ryder said.
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