Trump Makes Surprise Stop at Bronx Barbershop, Gains Support From Black and Hispanic Voters

Former President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to Knockout Barber in The Bronx on Thursday, marking his second visit to the area as the 2024 presidential election draws near.

The unplanned stop, part of a segment for “Fox & Friends,” caught co-owner Javier Rodriguez, 33, off guard.

Trump was interview by “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones at the shop.Javiel Rodrigue

“This happened out of, honestly, nowhere,” Rodriguez said after the visit. Despite the shock, Trump quickly broke the ice with the barbershop staff and customers. “Once he got in, he started cracking jokes and gave us a warm feeling. Everyone loosened up, and as he walked by, everybody shook his hand,” Rodriguez told The Post on Friday.

Though Rodriguez didn’t reveal much about their conversation, he mentioned that they discussed topics related to The Bronx and local schools.

“I’m happy with the conversations we had,” he said. Rodriguez, a registered Democrat who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, remains undecided about his upcoming election, stating, “I will make that decision at the ballot.”

However, his father, Javier Rodriguez Sr., a former owner of Knockout Barber, has made up his mind.

A lifelong Democrat, Rodriguez Sr. expressed support for Trump’s economic policies, particularly his stance on taxes and Social Security.

“I voted twice for Trump, and now I’m going to vote again,” he said, praising Trump’s approach to lowering taxes on tips and Social Security.

A crowd of both supporters and protesters gathered outside the Castle Hill Avenue barbershop during Trump’s visit, but their view was obstructed by a tent set up by Secret Service agents. This security measure followed two recent assassination attempts on Trump’s life.

Co-owner Javier Rodriguez said Trump’s visit came as a surprise.Brigitte Stelzer

The barbershop visit was part of a series hosted by “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones, with the full interview set to air on October 21. During the visit, Trump told patrons, “You guys are the same as me. It’s the same stuff. We were born the same way. I grew up in Queens and all of that,” in a preview clip shown on the morning show.

A tent was erected over the shop’s entrance for security.Brigitte Stelzer

Appearing on “Fox & Friends” the next day, Trump highlighted his growing support among Black and Hispanic voters. Public polling has indicated that Trump is set to perform better with Black voters than any Republican nominee since Richard Nixon in 1960.

The billionaire Trump told patrons they were the “same as me.”

In 2016, Trump garnered 8% of the Black vote, which rose to 12% in 2020. A recent poll from The New York Times/Siena College showed Trump receiving 15% support from Black voters against Vice President Kamala Harris, including 20% of Black men and 12% of Black women.

Trump extends his greetings at the barbershop.

While Trump is unlikely to win New York in the 2024 election, polling data shows he is gaining traction among traditionally Democratic voters.

A recent Siena College poll revealed that 55% of likely New York voters support Harris, with 42% backing Trump. Despite the uphill battle in his home state, Trump remains focused on broadening his appeal among minority voters as he campaigns for a return to the White House.