Trump vows to secure, revitalize violence-weary cities as he stumps in New Hampshire

With the nation’s first primary state as a backdrop, former President Donald Trump took aim Saturday at Democrats’ urban strongholds, vowing to both secure and revitalize blue cities weary from years of violence and economic decay.

“We’re going to rebuild our cities into beacons of hope, safety, and beauty. It will be the greatest investment ever made,” Trump told a large, enthusiastic crowd in Durham, N.H. 

With a commanding double-digit lead in the GOP primary, Trump used the visit to train most of his attacks on his likely general election opponent, President Joe Biden, even though the first primary contests are still weeks away.

The former president hopes to secure convincing wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to clear the GOP field and force Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Niki Haley from the race early so he can focus on a rematch with Biden. He made clear Saturday he will be contrasting his economic record with that of Bidenomics.

“Under the Trump administration, you were better off, your family was better off, your neighbors were better off, your communities were better off, and our country was better off,” he told the crowd. “America was stronger, richer, safer, and more confident than ever when you had me behind that desk in the Oval Office.”

Trump‘s visit was punctuated by another big endorsement, this time from former state Senate President Chuck Morse, now running for governor.

“He’s done it once and he’ll do it again,” Morse said of Trump.

The 45th president focused much attention on America’s insecure border, warning that illegal immigrants, drug dealers and criminals are overrunning the country and its social safety net.

“They’re poisoning the blood of our country. That’s what they’ve done,” Trump told the crowd, citing illegal immigrants. “They poison mental institutions and prisons all over the world, not just in South America, but all over the world.”

Repeating a favorite line, Trump vowed to begin a mass deportation of illegals on the first day he’s back in office should he win.

“On my first day back in the White House, I will terminate every open borders policy of the Biden administration, stop the invasion of our southern border and begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” he said.

He also put China on notice to avoid a trade war.

“I will pass the Trump Reciprocal Trade Act. If China or any other country makes us pay a tariff or a tax…then we will make them pay a reciprocal tariff or tax the exact same amount,” he said.