In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for governor of New York – calling him “highly respected and very popular.”

“Bruce is MAGA all the way and has been with me from the very beginning,” the president wrote. He predicted that Blakeman would “win the big November Election” against Gov. Kathy Hochul, who defeated former Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin in 2022. Zeldin is Trump’s EPA administrator.

“I am blessed and grateful to have the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” said Blakeman in a prepared statement. “President Trump is driving down gasoline prices and slashing the cost of prescription drugs. Securing our borders has made America safer. President Trump loves New York and we will be partners in making New York safe and affordable.”

Gov. Hochul held a double-digit lead over both Rep. Elise Stefanik (49-30%, 20% undecided), who left the race earlier this week, and Blakeman (50-25%, 21% undecided), according to a new Siena Poll of New York State registered voters released on Dec. 16.

Gov. Hochul's campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika released a statement:

“Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for one reason: he’ll put Trump first, New York last, and leave families to foot the bill. Take it from Trump, Blakeman is ‘MAGA all the way’ – he cheered Trump’s expensive tariffs that jack up costs for New Yorkers, ran Nassau’s safety-net hospital into the ground, and stayed silent when Trump slashed nearly $200 million from the NYPD. Blakeman should have learned a lesson from Elise Stefanik: MAGA sellouts don’t win New York, and they sure as hell don’t end up in the governor’s mansion.”