At a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, President Donald Trump slammed two New York Democrats who have been among his harshest critics.Â
In a speech at Hotel Utica, where the $1,000-a-person fundraiser was held, Trump blasted U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both of whom have been mentioned as possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.Â
Trump expressed disappointment that the Cuomo administration opted to ban hydraulic fracturing in New York. The 2014 decision prohibits the drilling technique to extract natural gas.Â
Proponents of hydraulic fracturing contend that it would create thousands of jobs and provide a major boost to economically depressed upstate New York. But opponents believe the environmental impact would outweigh any economic benefits.Â
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"We had the potential to do it better than anybody," Trump said. "It's dissipated."Â
Trump later criticized Cuomo's position on guns. The governor has called on the president and Congress to pass federal gun safety legislation in the aftermath of mass shootings.Â
One of Cuomo's signature legislative achievements is the passage of the SAFE Act, a 2013Â gun control law that he advocated for following the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.Â
"Cuomo wants to take away your Second Amendment," Trump said.Â
Trump reminded the crowd that he nearly ran for governor in 2014. Republicans urged him to enter the race and challenge Cuomo, who was then seeking a second term as the state's top executive.Â
After traveling the state and speaking at GOP fundraisers, Trump declined to run for governor. One year later, he launched his presidential campaign.Â
Now it's Cuomo who has been mentioned as a possible Trump opponent in 2020. The president claimed the governor called him and said he would never run against him.Â
"Oh, please do it," Trump said Monday.Â
Cuomo's campaign didn't respond to questions about the phone call between the governor and Trump. Earlier Monday, Cuomo's office released a statement ahead of the president's visit to upstate New York.Â
"You say you want to make this country great again, but you have clearly forgotten what made this country great in the first place," Cuomo said. "Perhaps you can use this trip to New York to help you remember what truly makes this state and this nation great."Â
Trump also weighed in on the U.S. Senate race in New York. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration in Congress, is seeking a second six-year term. Her opponent is Chele Farley, a Republican.Â
Farley, who attended the fundraiser in Utica, was recognized by Trump. He wished her luck and believes she should defeat Gillibrand, a Democrat, in November.Â
"I know your opponent very well," Trump said. "She's been up to my office looking for campaign contributions. And she's very aggressive on contributions, but she's not very aggressive on getting things done."Â
Gillibrand tweeted after Trump's speech, "The President refuses to acknowledge the work I've gotten done. Sound familiar, ladies?"Â
Trump visited upstate New York for the first time as president Monday. Before traveling to Utica for the Tenney fundraiser, he signed the National Defense Authorization Act at Fort Drum in Jefferson County.Â