Gillibrand Launches Campaign In Front Of UWS Trump Tower

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand gave the first major speech of her presidential campaign Sunday on the Upper West Side with Trump International Hotel & Tower serving as her backdrop.

Gillibrand touted her record as one of the most anti-Trump members of the Senate and took a number of shots at the president during her speech. As for Trump International, New York's junior senator called the Columbus Circle skyscraper a "shrine to greed, division and vanity," CNN reported.

The speech was held one week after a March 17 video announcement that Gillibrand will run for president in 2020. The announcement was made following a two-month "exploratory phase" in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, California and Texas where the senator "earned strong reviews," according to Gillibrand's campaign.

Other "launch week" events for Gillibrand included a visit to the swing state of Michigan, an MSNBC Town Hall and an appearance on Showtime's late-night program "Desus and Mero."

Gillibrand endorsed a number of progressive policies during her Sunday speech including, a Green New Deal and Medicare for all and also family-centric policies such as universal pre-k and stronger family leave, CNN reported.

The New York Senator has risen to national prominence despite a relatively short congressional record. Gillibrand served in the U.S. House of Representatives for just two years from 2006 to 2008 before being appointed to fill the Senate vacancy created when Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State.

Gillibrand represented New Yorks' 20th congressional district. She most recently won re-election to the Senate in 2018, easily defeating challenger Chele Farley with 67 percent of the vote.