News/Commentary

Trump visits NYC bodega where owner stabbed violent thug

April 17, 2024 | | Print Article

A surprise visit to a particular bodega saw the former president met with cheers and singing as he asked “You know what we’re going to be doing, right?”

“We’re gonna be saving America.”

At the conclusion of the second day of his New York criminal trial, former President Donald Trump announced to the press, “I’m going to a bodega.” Specifically, he meant the Hamilton Heights locale where worker Jose Alba had fatally stabbed a man in self-defense only to face charges of second-degree murder from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s (D) office.

Outside the Sanaa Convenient Store, previously the Blue Moon, on W 139th St. and Broadway, barricades had been set up to hold back the crowd that had gathered in support of Trump with chants of “Four more years!” and included kids shouting, “I love you, Trump!”

ADVERTISEMENT

After greeting members of the crowd, the former president spent some time inside the bodega where, in July 2022, Alba had been confronted behind the counter by Austin Simon, whose girlfriend had reportedly initially slashed the employee’s arm after becoming aggressive when her card was declined trying to buy a bag of chips.

Alba himself was said to still be in the Dominican Republic where he had fled in fear after the charges had eventually been dropped, supporting what video from the incident had clearly shown.

“Number one, we have to stop crime,” Trump had said having met with the bodega’s co-owner Maad Ahmed. “We have to let the police do their job, they have to be given back their authority.”

While fielding questions from reporters, the crowd could be heard singing the national anthem as the GOP leader asked and answered, “You know what we’re going to be doing, right? We’re gonna be saving America.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has repeatedly suggested that winning New York was a possibility come November, a point former Republican Congressman and one-time gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin emphasized as he shared images from outside the bodega.

“President Trump will put New York in play this November! It is only Day 2 of this show trial, and President Trump is already breaking the internet by visiting Jose Alba’s bodega,” wrote Zeldin. “Alba was shipped to Rikers Island by Bragg after acting in self-defense.”

Before his arrival, the bodega’s co-owner Maad Ahmed, a U.S. citizen originally from Yemen, had told the New York Post, “I have never voted, because I’ve been working, but this time I will. We need Donald Trump back in the White House because he’s a strong guy.”

“What happened to Jose was very hard for me. Jose was defending himself from the guy who came behind the counter. All for $1 worth of chips,” he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Similarly, Trump suggested motivations behind growing support in the Empire State as he told the media, “The African American community are now not getting jobs — the migrants are taking their jobs that are here illegally. Hispanics are not getting jobs.”

“You have massive numbers of terrorists coming into our country, all because of [President Joe] Biden,” contended Trump.

Another point made by the former president, before being seen stopping to fulfill a request to get a photograph with officers as he left, was, “If you had a gun, you’d never get robbed, you’d never get robbed, that would be the end of it.”

Kevin Haggerty
Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles