Former President Donald Trump and the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, found themselves sharing a room at the White House on a recent Friday, each carrying distinct objectives to the table. Trump, who had previously described Hochul as ‘a really pleasant woman,’ was seeking her backing for a gas pipeline operation that would stretch from Pennsylvania to New York and subsequently fork out to New England. The initiation of the Constitutional Pipeline witnessed a pause in 2020, as the state declared the pipeline incompatible with New York’s water sanitization norms.
The Governor, Kathy Hochul, saw the interaction with the former president as an opportunity to resurface discussions on subjects crucial to her state. Among these is the matter of congestion charges, a policy scrapped by Trump the previous month when he invalidated its federal approval. Their discussion spanned topics covering infrastructure, congestion pricing, trade tariffs, and energy policies. Democratic statesmen like Hochul often find themselves in complex situations whilst negotiating with Trump, and we’re seeing this situation now that Trump is in the early months of his second term.
Faced with Trump’s hard-line position, Hochul shared an analogy from the Rambo film series to explain her negotiation strategy. ‘Did anyone see First Blood? You strike back when someone hits you first. I wasn’t the one who struck first, OK?’ she explained. The dynamics between the administrative factions of Hochul and Trump have seen their fair share of charges and legal fights, covering everything from birthright nationality, immigration protocols, and governmental efficiency matters.
‘I have no issues with taking up a battle. I hail from a harsh neighborhood in Buffalo and have many brothers, so I am always ready. We are currently in this situation right now,’ Hochul said. ‘We have witnessed a series of intense, high-profile battles, and I can handle them. I don’t intend to confront him on every little thing; that strategy will cause us to lose credibility.’ As an increasing number of New York voters hunger for moderate political positions, Democratic party members are scrutinizing her potential for reelection in 2026. Her tactics when dealing with Trump may dictate the fate of her political trajectory.
‘She is participating in the resistance game differently,’ commented Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. A major point of contention that she has taken up concerns the congestion pricing policy, which imposed toll fees on vehicle drivers operating in south Manhattan. She sought out Trump’s support for this – only to witness him undo its federal consent due to his belief that this measure would be detrimental to the city. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority responded with legal action against this rollback, earning support from Hochul.
The Governor was quick to dismiss any notions of autocracy by stating, ‘New York hasn’t been under a monarch for over 250 years. We aren’t going to start now.’ A recent study from Siena College found that four out of 10 New Yorkers are opposed to congestion pricing. But since its establishment in January, the transit policy has elevated in popularity, and Hochul’s defense of this strategy is leading to increased favorability among green activists and transit supporters.
Hochul shed light on the issue of Trump’s tariffs, which he maintains are necessary to aid American commerce. However, she argues that these could cost an average New Yorker up to $1,200 a year. ‘This is merely the starting point of what we’re going to endure as an outcome of this administration,’ Hochul expressed, following a session with local New York farmers.
However, she has exercised restraint regarding political positions that might incite controversy, immigration being one such topic. Multiple studies have revealed that there’s no correlation between immigration and crime, in fact, the rates of crime committed by immigrants are often lower than those perpetrated by citizens born in the country.
Immigration advocates such as Murad Awahdeh, the president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, are urging Hochul to defy Trump on immigration policy. At present, they’re dedicating their efforts towards the New York for All Act. This would prevent state and local officials from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on matters involving deportations. Hochul’s office commented in an official statement, that the Governor will review the bill (first proposed several years ago) if the legislature approves it.
Hochul has maintained that collaboration with ICE would be feasible in situations where a migrant in the state is proved to have committed a crime. Notable Democratic strategist in New York Morgan Hook perceives immigration as the most significant Washington issue that Hochul will need to manage. The crucial question remains – will she align herself with progressive Democrats or voters who favour tighter immigration policies?