By: Chaya Abescassis

In the final days before New Jersey’s gubernatorial election, President Trump issued a direct appeal to the Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood, urging voters to turn out “in huge numbers” for Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli. The president’s message, delivered via his social media platform and reported by VIN News on Sunday, underscored the strategic importance of the Orthodox bloc, long regarded as one of the most disciplined and influential voting constituencies in the state.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, Trump praised Lakewood’s Orthodox residents as among his most loyal supporters, crediting them with a decisive role in what he described as his “historic 2024 presidential campaign.” In his statement, Trump wrote, “Lakewood, New Jersey, was one of our biggest wins anywhere in the country, with more than 90% of the vote.”

The president’s latest call to action reflects his ongoing effort to consolidate Republican momentum among faith-based communities. As the VIN News report noted, Orthodox Jewish voters in Lakewood — a town of nearly 140,000 residents, most of them members of the Haredi and yeshiva communities — have emerged as a critical Republican stronghold in a state that otherwise leans heavily Democratic.

Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli was characteristically emphatic. He declared that the Republican candidate would be “a GREAT Governor” and reaffirmed that Ciattarelli has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” According to the information contained in the VIN News report, Trump’s message specifically targeted the thousands of yeshiva students and families who turned out in extraordinary numbers for him in 2024. “Your turnout can save New Jersey,” he wrote, echoing his belief that Lakewood’s concentrated Orthodox electorate could once again tilt the scales.

The president’s appeal came with a familiar populist refrain centered on the state’s high cost of living. As the VIN News report highlighted, Trump pledged that Ciattarelli would “cut your taxes and tremendously reduce your out-of-control and ridiculous energy costs.” He contrasted this with a warning that the Democratic contender — whom he did not name — would “double, triple, and even quadruple” those expenses, rhetoric consistent with his broader critique of blue-state fiscal policies.

Trump concluded his message with a personal note of affection for the Garden State. “Your votes in this election will save New Jersey, a state that is near and dear to my heart,” he wrote. “Vote for Jack Ciattarelli on Tuesday, November 4th!”

As the VIN News report observed, Trump’s outreach to Orthodox communities reflects a longstanding alliance rooted in shared conservative values, strong pro-Israel sentiment, and appreciation for his administration’s policies on religious liberty and security. His continued engagement with Lakewood underscores the community’s political weight and its capacity to mobilize large voter turnouts even in local contests.

Whether Trump’s call translates into a decisive electoral push remains to be seen. But as the VIN News report noted, the appeal was as much symbolic as strategic — a reminder of the enduring relationship between the president and one of his most steadfast constituencies.