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Hochul Gives Press Conference Following Trump Win
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Hochul Gives Press Conference Following Trump Win

Just hours after Donald Trump’s resounding victory, New York’s top Democratic leaders, Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, made it clear they were preparing for battle. In a fiery press conference on Wednesday, Hochul announced her “Empire State Freedom Initiative,” designed to counter what she called “policy and regulatory threats” from the Trump administration. The message was unmistakable: New York’s leadership was bracing for a contentious relationship with the incoming president, focusing on defending state policies over issues like abortion, LGBTQ rights, labor laws, environmental protections, and immigration.

“We’re ready to work with him where we can,” Hochul said, but she quickly pivoted to a warning: “You try to harm New Yorkers or roll back their rights, I will fight you every step of the way.” Hochul’s tone was combative, treating Trump’s victory not as a call for unity but as a harbinger of ideological conflict. The message was clear—New York would resist any attempt by the Trump administration to reshape policies that the state views as fundamental to its identity.

Attorney General Letitia James took the stage next, reiterating her commitment to counter Trump’s agenda. James, who has been a central figure in high-profile legal actions against Trump, described her office’s readiness to push back against any rollbacks of progress made on civil rights and environmental issues. “I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards,” she stated, vowing to “defend Americans” against policies she views as regressive.

James has become a prominent figure in Trump’s legal battles, winning a $454 million civil fraud judgment against the former president over accusations of inflating his net worth for financial gain. That ruling, which Trump is appealing, has positioned her as one of Trump’s most vocal critics within the New York legal landscape. When asked about her ongoing case against Trump, James was undeterred: “I am not fearful of Donald Trump. I have not been fearful of Donald Trump.”

Hochul’s reaction to Trump’s win, which saw him gain ground in traditionally blue areas of New York, came across as almost mournful. “New Yorkers will persevere over the next four years,” she said solemnly, framing his victory as a potential setback for the state’s values. Still, she expressed hope that Trump might repeal the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions and continue funding critical infrastructure projects like the Second Avenue subway and the Hudson River tunnel.

The response from New York Republicans was swift and scathing. Ed Cox, the state GOP chairman, labeled Hochul’s approach “dumb and bizarre,” accusing her of needlessly antagonizing Trump instead of looking for ways to collaborate for the benefit of New Yorkers. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik called Hochul’s press conference “out of bounds,” crediting Trump’s gains in New York to the state’s growing disenchantment with what she termed the “witch hunt” tactics of James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Former Congressman Lee Zeldin, who ran against Hochul in the 2022 gubernatorial race, urged her to consider why so many New Yorkers had turned to the GOP. “Today could be a great day for Kathy Hochul to reflect on why so many in her party are fleeing their ranks in a historic realignment with the Republican Party,” he said, condemning her divisive rhetoric. “Her partisanship being as toxic the day after an election as it is the day before is why she is so increasingly unpopular.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman took issue with what he saw as Hochul’s disregard for Trump’s electoral mandate, pointing out that Trump had won significantly more votes in New York than in 2020. “Rather than being gracious and trying to work together, Hochul took a defiant, war-like stance,” he said, warning that this antagonistic approach could further exacerbate New York’s economic challenges.

Written by Arthur Higgens - November 7, 2024