Trump's Harlem Bodega Trip: Vows To 'Straighten New York Out'

HARLEM, NY — After a court appearance Tuesday for his criminal trial in Manhattan, former president Donald J. Trump made a campaign stop at a Harlem bodega where a clerk fatally stabbed a man in 2022.

A throng of supporters greeted Trump as he arrived at Sanaa Convenience Store at West 139th Street and Broadway to meet with the owner and criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg — who is prosecuting Trump's hush-money trial — for his handling of that stabbing case.

“I love this city, and it's gotten so bad,” Trump told reporters after meeting with store owner Maad Ahmed. “We’re going to straighten New York out.”

Formerly called Blue Moon, this Hamilton Heights bodega was the site where clerk Jose Alba fatally stabbed customer Austin Simon, who had jumped behind the counter to confront him. Alba and others, including Mayor Eric Adams, claimed the case was self-defense.

Bragg's office originally charged Alba with murder, and he was detained for weeks on Rikers Island before the DA's office eventually dropped the charges.

The former president criticized Bragg for going after "guys like Trump who did nothing wrong" instead of focusing on the real criminals, as quoted by the New York Post.

Trump focused mainly on his depictions of New York as a lost, crime-ridden city and said little about the felony charges against him.

“They want law and order ... every week they’re being robbed,” he said.“You know where the crime is? It’s in the bodegas.”

Bragg's office responded Tuesday, saying that Alba's case was “resolved nearly two years ago, and the charges were dismissed after a thorough investigation."

“DA Bragg’s top priority remains combating violent crime and the office has worked hand in hand with the NYPD to drive down overall crime in Manhattan," the statement said.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said Trump "conveniently left out" statistics showing that murders and shootings in Manhattan have decreased, and indicated this was just a stunt.

"In his 70 years living in NYC Trump probably never went to a bodega once," Levine said. "And almost certainly never went to 139th & Broadway."