Speaking In Long Branch, Trump Vows New Iran Nuclear Deal

LONG BRANCH, NJ — Speaking at a private fundraiser in Long Branch early Sunday evening, President Donald Trump promised the U.S. "would have a (nuclear) deal with Iran within four weeks" if he is re-elected this November.

He was speaking at the home of the late Stanley Chera, a New York City real estate tycoon who died of COVID this year, at the age of 77. Despite this, nobody in the crowd could be seen wearing a mask or social distancing; see Twitter video from a JewishInsider reporter below.

The fundraiser was brief; by 8 p.m. Trump was en route back to Washington, D.C. flying out of Morristown.

"If we win —" began President Trump, and then many in the crowd started cheering and rose to their feet, shouting "We will win!"

"We will have a deal with Iran within four weeks," promised the president.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been somewhat high throughout Trump's presidency and are reaching a climax this week, with the Trump administration calling for a U.N. vote to approve an arms embargo against Iran, according to The Hill. Trump mostly takes issue with the 2015 nuclear deal made between Iran and the United States, under then-President Barack Obama.

Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018.

Experts say Trump knows the United Nations vote will fail, and he will then impose sanctions as leverage for his new deal.

Long Branch residents also reported seeing several anti-Trump messages spray painted in the area this weekend, in advance of the president's arrival. Anti-Trump graffiti was found on Park Avenue and on Cedar Avenue. The Asbury Park Press reported there were pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters on Ocean Avenue Sunday.

Hear Trump talk in Long Branch:

Chera was a personal friend of Trump's. His home is in Elberon; Deal and Elberon are summer vacation spots for the Syrian Jewish community, of which Chera was a part. Chera previously held a fundraiser for Trump at his home in 2016, before he was elected.

Trump was introduced by Chera's son, Haim Chera.

"After my father's passing you called us every single day to do everything in your power to help your friend Stanley," said Chera. "You were fighting a war against an invisible enemy recklessly or maliciously released onto our shores by China. And you still made time to offer your assistance to us. President Trump, your sincerity and care for my father, I will never forget. Anyone would be lucky to have a friend so real as you. Even if you weren't the greatest president in our country's history, which you are, I would be indebted to you."

"I remember being at a lunch with a bunch of New York City big shots and bankers, and one of them sarcastically asking, 'Hey Stanley, what do you think Trump's chances are?'" he continued. "And my dad answered, One hundred percent win ...You are on the right side of every 'America first' issue there ever was."

Seats to meet the President at Sunday's fundraiser went as high as $250,000. For a photo op and to enter the reception, tickets were $35,000 and the cheapest cost of entry was $5,600, Yeshiva World News reported.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow the Long Branch-Eatontown Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email carly.baldwin@patch.com