SUFFERN, New York — The question of whether President Donald Trump can be an advantage in one of the nation’s most contested House races looms large.
“Mr. SALT” seems to believe he can.
On Friday, Trump arrived in Republican Representative Mike Lawler’s district, a key area in determining GOP control of the House, to promote the administration’s affordability initiatives. However, aligning with Trump carries significant political risks for the two-term congressman, particularly as the president is experiencing low approval ratings amid the conflict in Iran and surging gas prices.
Despite voter concerns over escalating costs, Trump addressed thousands at Rockland Community College’s gymnasium, steering the economic discussion toward the advantages of expanding the state and local tax deduction—a measure Lawler championed last year.
“He didn’t stop. This guy was a pain in the ass. It was terrible,” Trump remarked about Lawler, whom he dubbed “Mr. SALT.” “You’re lucky to have him in this community. … With the help of your great congressman, what happened? We got your taxes cut, not only from the standpoint of SALT, but your taxes were cut, your take-home pay has soared.”
Inviting Trump to a district previously won by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 could be risky. Nonetheless, as Lawler stated, “when the president of the United States wants to come to your district, you show up.” Highlighting the connection between recent tax refunds from the SALT deduction and Lawler’s efforts is seen as a significant advantage for the incumbent by some Republicans.
Lawler’s political identity as a moderate Republican who critiques some of Trump’s policies while maintaining a cordial relationship with him was evident at the event. He noted how Democrats in 2024 heavily branded him as “MAGA Mike,” while certain Republicans labeled him a “traitorous RINO” over disagreements with his voting record.
“I’m a Republican who actively works with common-sense Democrats on key issues, someone who is not afraid to challenge his own party’s leaders when I believe they are wrong or acting against the interests of the Hudson Valley,” Lawler declared in his speech. He emphasized the importance of having a strong working relationship with the president to achieve results in Congress.
Other speakers joined Trump in praising Lawler, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, who urged gratitude for Lawler’s advocacy for middle-class families in New York. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed Lawler as a “patriot” who collaborated with Trump to deliver “the largest tax cut in American history.”
“You’ve got to remember: These were all Republicans; no Democrats voted for your tax cuts,” Lutnick emphasized. “Zero.”
Meanwhile, Democrats have strongly criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, particularly for its significant Medicaid cuts, hoping it will negatively impact Republicans in the midterms.
“Nothing says ‘I don’t care about my district’ quite like Mike Lawler bringing Donald Trump to NY-17 to tout a disastrous economy that’s crushing working families at every turn,” stated Riya Vashi, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, accusing Lawler of embracing “the unpopular architect of this economic disaster.”
The GOP’s counterpart in the DCCC offered a contrasting perspective: “While radical Democrats have spent years making New York one of the most expensive and unaffordable states in the nation, President Trump and Mike Lawler have worked tirelessly to right the ship,” said Maureen O’Toole, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “Thanks to their efforts, Hudson Valley families saw the SALT deduction quadruple, their paycheck grow, and taxes go down.”
Democrats are engaged in a contentious primary to decide who will challenge Lawler, with five candidates vying for the June election. They questioned the real benefits of the SALT deduction expansion for residents facing high living costs.
“Don’t fall for the lies,” Army veteran Cait Conley told POLITICO after a rally opposing the Trump event, featuring all five Democratic candidates. “Mike Lawler voted to make a permanent tax on New Yorkers, and the lift from $10,000 to $40,000 is temporary. Five years from now, when Mike Lawler is off running for governor or Senate, families here are going to get screwed.”
Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson criticized Lawler’s stance on the SALT cap, saying it was “one more way in which [he] just bent to Donald Trump” because he didn’t eliminate the cap entirely. “A little SALT doesn’t make the rest of the agenda go down any better,” she remarked.
Tarrytown trustee Effie Phillips-Staley claimed she rarely hears about the SALT tax, noting that constituents are more concerned with housing, food, and gas prices.
Lawler defended his record, telling POLITICO that if Democrats had their way, “we would have had the largest tax increase in American history.”
“They would have allowed everything to expire. They would have allowed the rates to double. They would have allowed the standard deduction to be cut in half, the child tax credit to be cut,” he asserted. “So I don’t need any advice from them when it comes to taxes. … These people, when they talk about issues of affordability, are not honest or sincere in any way. I’ve yet to hear them criticize one thing that New York State does when it comes to driving up costs year over year over year over year.”
Like many of Trump’s events, the president, who faced interruptions from protesters several times during his 90-minute speech, shared anecdotes and reiterated familiar points. He mocked Democrats for the Democratic National Committee’s failed 2024 autopsy rollout, saying, “I could’ve given them the autopsy without any charge at all.”
On immigration, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with a package of laws passed by New York state lawmakers limiting local police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also promoted the SAVE America Act, which would require voter ID and proof-of-citizenship for federal elections, and criticized the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Trump acknowledged several other Republican candidates running for office: Blakeman; Mike LiPetri, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi; state Sen. Peter Oberacker, contending against Democratic Rep. Josh Riley; and businessperson Anthony Constantino, seeking the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Trump warned of the consequences if Democrats gain power after the upcoming midterms, predicting they would revoke tax cuts and deductions.
“Never forget, not a single Democrat in Congress voted to raise the SALT deduction,” Trump stated. “Mike Lawler and all of his friends sitting up here fought them, and they voted against it.”
