Vice President JD Vance used an official visit to Nassau County on Wednesday to highlight the Trump administration’s efforts to combat crime and fraud, while also throwing his support behind Republican congressional candidate Mike LiPetri in a politically charged appearance at Gold Coast Studios in Bethpage.

Although the event was billed as a government visit focused on fraud prevention, much of Vance’s remarks centered on the race for New York’s 3rd Congressional District and criticism of Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi.

“Every single time he had an opportunity to vote for you, he voted for Hochul and Nancy Pelosi,” Vance said of Suozzi during his speech.

LiPetri, who lost to Suozzi in the 2024 election, is running again for the seat. Before facing Suozzi in a general election rematch, however, he would first need to secure the Republican nomination in a primary contest against fellow Republican Greg Hach.

Hach, who was not present at the event, dismissed the vice president’s appearance as an effort to revive LiPetri’s political prospects.

“They’re worried and they need to bring in the big guns to breathe some life into his collapsing campaign,” Hach said.

LiPetri welcomed the endorsement, emphasizing his ties to the Trump administration.

“I’m proud to not only have the support of President [Donald] Trump and Vice President Vance,” he said.

Suozzi sharply criticized the event, arguing that taxpayer resources were being used for political purposes.

“It was a purely political event using taxpayer dollars, and let me say very clearly to the vice president — the vice president is a phony,” Suozzi said.

The event also featured Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor. Blakeman claimed New York’s Medicaid system is plagued by fraud and abuse.

“We know that there is fraud, waste and abuse, just like there was in Minnesota and California,” Blakeman said.

A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed back against Blakeman’s claims, accusing him of proposing cuts to Medicaid and diverting local law enforcement resources to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.