Trump Cancels Campaign Appearance After Unexpected Tragedy

Former President Donald Trump had to cancel a planned campaign appearance in Brooklyn, New York, following the sudden death of a local restaurant owner.

Trump had been set to visit Gottlieb’s Restaurant, with both the media and his supporters eagerly anticipating the event. However, according to police sources speaking to PIX11 News, the visit was called off due to the unexpected passing of the restaurant’s owner.

Sholem Yosef Gottlieb, aged 75, tragically passed away, leading to the cancellation of Trump’s scheduled stop at the well-known Kosher restaurant in South Williamsburg. Posters and police barricades remained in place outside the venue as Trump’s supporters, including the Hasidic community, came to terms with the abrupt change in plans.

Yosef, who had long owned the popular establishment, was admired for his generosity and private charitable acts, referred to as chesed b’tzina. Earlier in the week, Secret Service agents had inspected the restaurant to ensure it met security requirements for Trump’s visit.

“It’s upsetting; the community was looking [forward] to seeing him over here,” said Moses Weiser, a close family friend, to NBC New York. A sign posted on the restaurant indicated it would stay closed until September 25 to allow the family time to mourn.

While NBC New York interviewed neighbors and family about the passing of Gottlieb, the sad news also reached international visitors who were part of a food tour in the area.

Established in 1962 by Sholem Yosef Gottlieb’s Holocaust-survivor father, the restaurant became a fixture in South Williamsburg. Gottlieb’s was known for its dedication to providing meals for those in need.

This event occurs as Trump continues to hold his national lead, even as Democratic excitement has surged with Vice President Kamala Harris entering the race.

A recent New York Times/Siena poll, published Sunday, shows Trump with 48% of likely voters, closely followed by Harris with 47%. These results mirror those of an earlier Times/Siena poll conducted after President Biden exited the race in late July, which also showed Trump at 48% to Harris’s 47%, as Fox News reported.

While there has been an increase in enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket since Harris stepped in for Biden, the New York Times observed that Trump’s support has remained “remarkably resilient” despite the shifting political landscape.

The poll indicates that Harris has not fully captured the trust of voters, with 28% of respondents feeling they need more details on her platform. In contrast, only 9% expressed similar uncertainty about Trump.

“I don’t know what Kamala’s plans are,” said Dawn Conley, a 48-year-old small business owner from Knoxville, Tennessee, leaning toward Trump, in an interview with the Times.

While Harris has made gains with some key Democratic demographics after Biden's departure, the poll suggests she’s still falling short among typically strong Democratic voter bases, such as women and Latinos.

Additionally, the desire for change is a challenge for Harris, with 60% of voters seeking a major shift from Biden’s policies. Just 25% of respondents believe Harris would bring that change, while 53% think Trump would, according to the Times survey.

Trump is also gaining traction with groups that traditionally lean Democratic. Polling from NPR/PBS News/Marist shows Trump surpassing Harris among independents by three points in a multi-candidate race, at 49% to 46%.

This is a notable shift from August when Trump was trailing Harris by 11 points, at 48% to 37%. The latest survey indicates Trump has gained around 14 points among independents and 19 points with Latino voters.