Edward Mangano, John Jay LaValle endorse Trump for president

Suffolk GOP Chairman John Jay LaValle and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano on Wednesday endorsed Donald Trump at the Republican presidential candidate’s rally in Bethpage.

In announcing the Suffolk Republican Party’s endorsement, LaValle told the crowd that, “We must unite under the Republican banner.”

LaValle said Trump’s campaign was “a message to our leaders that it’s time for Americans to be Americans.”

Mangano drew loud cheers as he reminded the crowd that Grumman Studios, the rally’s location, “is where they put a man on the moon! This is where history was made.” Grumman Corp. designed and assembled the Lunar Module for the Apollo program at the Bethpage site.

Mangano said the nation needed a president who could deliver a strong economy for the state and country.

“Donald Trump will deliver that strong economy,” Mangano said.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Mondello, who endorsed Trump several weeks ago, told the crowd that Trump “is the leader that our nation needs at this time. He’s a businessman with a history of getting things done.”

“We’re going to have a president who will secure our borders,” said Mondello. The crowd responded with, “Build the wall! Build the wall!”

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com,emily.ngo@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa,

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.