Greek-American Congresswoman travels with Trump to New York

Greek-American Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis joined President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One for his trip to New York, highlighting her close ties to the U.S. leader. Malliotakis, a staunch supporter of Trump and an active figure in the Republican Party, also leads the Hellenic Caucus, a bipartisan alliance focused on enhancing Greek-American relations.

As the sole New York representative for Republicans in the House of Representatives, Malliotakis accompanied Trump on his visit to Nassau County, Long Island. The President used the occasion to tout his administration's policies on crime, citing FBI data showing a decrease in homicides to a 75-year low and a 9.3% drop in violent crime in 2025. However, experts note this downward trend began in 2022 and is difficult to attribute to a single factor.

Trump leveraged the crime statistics to criticize Democrats, accusing them of weakening law enforcement policies. He also directed personal attacks at New York Governor Kathy Hochul and State Attorney General Letitia James. The President pointed to the deployment of the National Guard in American cities as evidence of his administration's effective security policies, using Washington as an example.

The visit's underlying political objective is to bolster Republican prospects in critical New York electoral contests. Trump narrowly won Nassau County in 2024, overturning a long-standing Democratic majority, and the area is now considered a battleground. Republicans are vying for two House seats there. Trump is also backing Republican Bruce Blakeman for governor against Hochul. Crime has become a pivotal issue in the electoral debate, with both candidates positioning themselves as the most reliable guarantors of New Yorkers' safety.