Since the election in November, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has consistently advocated for patience in her interactions with President Trump, emphasizing a thoughtful, compromise-focused approach during her tenure.
However, this week, Ms. Hochul appeared to be taking a different stance.
Following Mr. Trump’s announcement to abolish New York City’s congestion pricing initiative, the governor reacted on Wednesday with an unusual display of drama and frustration.
She referenced “Rambo,” the iconic Sylvester Stallone movie series, claiming that Mr. Trump would face consequences for being the one to draw “first blood.”
Additionally, she mocked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s past as a reality TV contestant, mirroring Trump’s flair for theatrics while criticizing the president for his self-comparison to royalty.
“At 1:58 p.m., President Donald Trump tweeted, ‘Long live the king,’” she stated at a press conference. “I’m here to declare that New York has not been under the rule of a king for over 250 years and we absolutely will not start now.”
Congestion pricing is not the sole issue compelling Ms. Hochul to rethink her usual approach.
The governor is considering whether to exercise her constitutional authority to oust the beleaguered New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, whose administration has faced turmoil following the resignations of four deputy mayors this week.
Both Mr. Trump’s threats and Mr. Adams’s struggles present significant and unique challenges for Ms. Hochul. Collectively, these challenges may greatly influence her political future as she faces low poll numbers ahead of a tough re-election campaign next year.
She is not alone among Democratic governors grappling with how to counter the series of actions taken by Mr. Trump since his return to the political scene. Some governors, like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have adopted strikingly aggressive approaches: he compared the first month of Mr. Trump’s term to the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany in his State of the State address this week.
Ms. Hochul, in contrast, had been taking a more diplomatic route, insisting that her interactions with Mr. Trump “do not have to be adversarial.” She spent considerable time working behind the scenes to establish common ground with the president on congestion pricing, only to be blindsided by his abrupt move to eliminate it.
In response, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the city’s subways and buses, promptly lodged a 51-page legal challenge on Wednesday, asserting that the effort to end congestion pricing was “arbitrary and capricious” as per the law.
The governor indicated that the tolling initiative would persist unless a judge ruled otherwise, with her legal team emphasizing their expectation of favorable judicial guidance. “Until a judge rules, these cameras are staying on,” remarked Ms. Hochul’s legal counsel, Brian K. Mahanna. “And we anticipate a ruling in our favor.”
Should the state lose its legal battle, Ms. Hochul must strategize to close a multibillion-dollar gap in the transit authority’s budget, funds earmarked for essential infrastructure repairs. Mr. Trump has made it explicit that no federal assistance would be forthcoming, stating that it was “up to New York” to discover alternative revenue sources.
Veteran Democratic strategist Peter Ragone, who has advised former Mayor Bill de Blasio and California Governor Gavin Newsom, noted that Ms. Hochul may never gain the support of suburban voters who vehemently oppose congestion pricing. However, her defense of the program could galvanize a coalition of voters and interest groups crucial to her re-election.
“Environmentalists, business leaders, and transit commuters now need to rally behind Kathy Hochul,” Mr. Ragone stated. “Suddenly, three essential constituencies are uniting against a common foe in Trump.”
Her stance against Mr. Trump—along with a proactive approach she took against a bid by Louisiana officials to extradite a New York physician involved in abortion medication distribution—has received commendation from New York Democrats. Similarly, her recent initiative to enhance oversight of the Adams administration has been well-received.
While Mr. Adams faces a five-count federal corruption indictment, the Justice Department has sought to dismiss the case. The prosecutor previously overseeing the mayor’s situation claimed that a quid pro quo arrangement was struck between Mr. Trump’s appointees at the Justice Department and Mr. Adams’s legal team: if he could evade a trial, Mr. Adams would be positioned to assist enforcement of Mr. Trump’s immigration policies.
On Thursday, the governor announced she would hold off on removing Mr. Adams for the time being. However, she rolled out a series of proposals aimed at empowering other city and state officials to monitor Mr. Adams’s administration at City Hall and shield the city from federal encroachments.
“We know they will stop at nothing to exert control over New York,” Ms. Hochul stated regarding the Trump administration.
Assemblyman Micah Lasher, who previously worked as Ms. Hochul’s policy director, remarked that she aims to collaborate with the New York City mayor rather than undermine him as her predecessor, Andrew M. Cuomo, often did. By nature, she is not confrontational and “will always endeavor to find a way forward that avoids unnecessary conflict.”
“She is attempting to navigate a middle course amidst opposing extremes, which is exceptionally challenging,” Mr. Lasher noted. “You’re witnessing it now with the mayor: how do you instill order and a sense of trust in a government where faith has been severely compromised without resorting to drastic actions?”
Those within Ms. Hochul’s circle indicated that as she weighs the decision to remove Mr. Adams, she is conscious of the long-term consequences and precedent such an extraordinary decision could set. The New York City Charter and State Constitution effectively position her as both jury and, if she chooses, judge in determining Mr. Adams’s fate.
Recently, the governor has sought means to stabilize governance in the state’s largest city while expressing her concerns over the mayor’s actions. She engaged with notable politicians and faith leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, on Tuesday, seeking their opinions about Mr. Adams’s future. Throughout these discussions, she revealed little about her impending choices.
During Thursday’s press conference, Ms. Hochul reiterated her criticism of Mr. Trump’s self-comparison to a king, this time using it to emphasize her reluctance to remove Mr. Adams without voicing the electorate’s opinions.
Shortly thereafter, her 2026 re-election campaign dispatched a fundraising appeal featuring a similar sentiment. It included a manipulated magazine cover, styled to resemble Time magazine, depicting Mr. Trump crowned. This image had been circulated via the White House’s social media accounts and was presented by the governor at the previous day’s press conference.
“Next time you find yourself in traffic, or your train is delayed, or you’re facing a flooded station due to insufficient infrastructure repairs, I want you to remember this,” she stated, pointing to the image.
Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting
