Former President Donald Trump held a rally at the Wildwood Boardwalk this past weekend.
Among the usual animated nature of a Trump rally was a rather bold claim from the man himself: “We’re expanding the electoral map, because we are going to officially play in the state of New Jersey,” Trump said in front of thousands at the beach. “We’re going to win the state of New Jersey.”
To call this a bold claim is an understatement. A Republican has not won New Jersey since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Still, anything is possible.
Ahead of the rally, the Wildwood Boardwalk posted on Instagram pictures of Trump supporters camping out overnight at the beach for the precious chance to get a front-row spot to Mr. Trump himself, who arrived in New Jersey Saturday after a week in the courtroom up in New York City where he’s facing felony charges tied to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Following the rally, conservative political consultant and lobbyist Roger Stone took to Twitter—now X—where he posted a photo of a crowded beach with the caption “Yeah, New Jersey is in play for @realDonaldTrump. Could Joe Biden draw a crowd like this?” It was later discovered that the photo, which showed mountains directly on the shoreline, was from a 1994 Rod Stewart concert in Rio de Janeiro to 3+ million attendees. Trump pardoned Stone in 2020, who was facing up to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction.
Yeah , New Jersey is in play for @realDonaldTrump. Could Joe Biden draw a crowd like this? pic.twitter.com/0mYkYx6fQc
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) May 12, 2024
Stone later claimed that his post was a joke.
New Jersey does have deeply conservative parts despite its safe-blue status on the electoral map. In South and Central Jersey, many counties consistently vote overwhelmingly for the Republican candidate during election season. In both 2016 and 2020, Trump carried much of South Jersey and the Shore; however, 2020 showed a trend towards Democrats that puts Trump’s NJ wishes even further away.
What do you think? Will Trump pull off the seemingly impossible and win New Jersey? Will one of his 88 criminal charges catch up to him? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.