New York Governor Kathy Hochul sparked controversy on Thursday when she seemingly referred to Trump supporters as “clowns” during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. This remark came just ahead of former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Bronx.
In the interview, Hochul said, “Well, I’ll tell you what won’t make a difference at all, Jake, and that’s for Donald Trump to be a ringleader and invite all his clowns to a place like the Bronx.” She further emphasized that New York would never support Trump for president, asserting that the state would back Joe Biden as it has in the past.
Hochul criticized Trump’s motives, saying, “He’s just for himself. So, if he wants to spend his time doing these made-up, fake rallies and pretending there’s support here, be my guest, because while you’re doing that, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s out there on the other side making sure he’s delivering for all Americans.”
In response, the Trump campaign quickly issued a statement to Fox News Digital, arguing that Hochul was merely upset because Trump is drawing large crowds in New York. The statement read, “Kathy Hochul is just upset that President Trump is pulling crowds in her state that she could only dream of; and Democrats are in disarray because Americans, including Hispanics and Blacks, are waking up to the fact that Joe Biden and the Democrat Party have been using them for votes and ripping them off for decades.”
Trump has been optimistic about his chances in New York despite the state’s Democratic leanings. He pointed to a recent Siena College poll showing Biden with a narrower-than-expected nine-point lead over him. This optimism comes even though New York hasn’t voted Republican in a presidential election since 1984.
David Laska, the director of communications for the New York GOP, also criticized Hochul’s remarks. He accused her of displaying intolerance and disdain for many New Yorkers. Laska referred to previous controversial comments Hochul made, such as labeling Catholics as “right-wing extremists” and suggesting that Black kids have never seen a computer.
Laska stated, “Kathy Hochul has once again revealed her true colors, disparaging millions of New Yorkers and demonstrating a shocking level of intolerance and disdain for a significant portion of our state’s population.” He called for Hochul to apologize, asserting that New York deserves a leader who respects its diverse population.
Hochul’s comments drew comparisons to a remark made by Hillary Clinton in 2016, where Clinton referred to a portion of Trump’s supporters as a “basket of deplorables.” This comparison underscores a recurring theme of divisive rhetoric in political discourse concerning Trump supporters.
Adding to the controversy, Hochul has a history of provocative statements against Republicans. In 2022, she suggested that GOP candidates should “get out of town” and head to Florida.
The Trump campaign reiterated their stance, highlighting the growing support for Trump in traditionally Democratic areas. Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
