Hochul Vows to “Lead the Resistance” Against President Trump
In a complete about-face, Governor Kathy Hochul anointed herself as the new leader of “The Resistance” against President Donald Trump and saying she “will fight back hard” against Trump to keep her controversial Congestion Pricing tax scheme.
“Once you draw first blood on us, you know we’re coming back hard, and I will be leading the resistance on policies like these where you’re hurting New Yorkers directly,” she proclaimed in the NPR Morning Edition interview.
Just ten days ago Hochul said she was focused on governing New York and would not be taking the lead on any resistance. After Trump was elected, Hochul seemed to want to focus on collaboration and forming a good working relationship with the White House for the benefit of all New Yorkers.
All that changed once Trump pushed back on Hochul’s $500 million/year Congestion Pricing tax scheme. The tax scheme would charge $9 to each driver entering certain parts of Manhattan during certain times of the day. Hochul was relying on the funds for improvements and maintenance of New York City’s mass transit system totaling $15 billion over time.
Hochul abandoned her approach of finding common ground and working cooperatively with the White House for the good of all New Yorkers and instead staked out a position favored by the far Left of the party.
Observers think Hochul sees her low poll numbers and is trying on the ‘Resistance’ uniform in an effort to stake out a strong position against President Trump and raise her popularity.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Gerry Kassar said, “Governor Hochul’s duplicitous interaction with the Trump Administration is a further reminder of her lack of leadership and direction in governing a large, diverse state.”
“Hey Hochul the last time you led anything you lost the majority in Congress. Try leading the state, not the resistance you feckless dope. You're at 30% for a reason. Resign. #HopelessHochul,” said Steve McLaughlin, Rensselaer County Executive, said on his private X/Twitter page. “Note to Democrats: if this empty pantsuit is your ‘leader’ on anything….you’re doomed.”
"Governor Hochul’s flip-flopping is as shameless as it is predictable. Just weeks ago, she claimed she would work with the new administration to help New York, but now, under pressure from her far-left base, she’s declared herself the leader of the so-called ‘resistance’, said David Laska, spokesperson for the New York State Republican Party.
Laska added, "This kind of hyper-partisan posturing might play well in Democratic circles, but it does nothing to help struggling New Yorkers. New York is facing a crime crisis, an affordability crisis, and an exodus of residents and businesses - issues created by one-party Democratic rule. Kathy Hochul has made it clear that she would rather play politics than find solutions to these crises, which won't be resolved until we change the party in power in Albany."
Making fun of Hochul’s new position, a Kathy Hochul Press Release parody page on X/Twitter posted, “I am now officially leading the Resistance against the occupant of the White House. To promote my activism, I have partnered with Ben & Jerry’s for a new Resistance ice cream flavor, so pick some up at your local B&J authorized retailer today!”