NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump implored New York City Republicans on Saturday to vote for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in defense of “Judeo-Christian principles.”
In a private teleconference call with GOP voters, Trump, 76, heartily endorsed Malliotakis over her opponent, Democrat Max Rose, in the race to represent New York’s 11th Congressional District, which covers Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn.
“We want free speech, the Second Amendment protected and the Judeo-Christian principles of our nation’s founding,” Trump said, promising Malliotakis would uphold those things if re-lected, according to a recording of the remarks obtained by The New York Daily News.
“These are the things we want, these are the things we’ll get,” Trump said.
The former president focused most of his stump speech on crime, assuring voters that Malliotakis would “end the wave of violent crime and restore peace to New York.”
He also took some shots at Rose, who held the seat for a single term before Malliotakis topped him in the 2020 election.
“I got to know Max Rose, and he’s weak,” Trump said. “Max Rose is a far-left extremist.”
Rose, a veteran of the Afghanistan war who was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, fired back in a statement.
“Donald Trump unleashed a mob that almost killed Nicole while leaving five police officers dead and her response was to beg for his endorsement,” Rose told The News, referring to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
“Nicole has no morals, which is what Donald Trump will learn when she endorses (Florida Gov. Ron) DeSantis over him,” Rose said.
Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan, whose district overlaps with the one represented by Malliotakis, mocked Trump’s assertion about the congresswoman‘s commitment to “Judeo-Christian values.”
“No worries. I’ll make sure my Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and atheist neighbors are aware,” tweeted Brannan, a Democrat.
In early October, a Siena College poll showed Malliotakis leading Rose by a 6% margin. Election Day is Tuesday.
