Transcript: Gov. Kathy Hochul on

The next is the transcript of an interview with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Feb. 23, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Trump’s conflict with Democratic governors. Becoming a member of us now from Albany, New York, is the governor, Kathy Hochul, good morning to you, Governor. 

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL: Good morning. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know you have been simply right here in Washington and also you met privately with President Trump. Previously, you’ve got mentioned the connection does not need to be adversarial. Was your assembly with him adversarial? And what was your high message?

GOV. HOCHUL: It was an adversarial assembly, however I used to be very clear, particularly after I discovered that the Trump administration had ended a program that was put in place, congestion pricing, by the duly elected members of our legislature representing the voice of the individuals, and with a tweet, he claims that he’s the king, and due to this fact he has the facility to destroy it. And I’ve an issue with that characterization, as a result of we labored below a king 250 years in the past, and as I mentioned, we’re not going again there. So I wished to take my case to him straight and let him see the advantages of this program, as a result of our metropolis is paralyzed with gridlock, and we had a path ahead to have the ability to make town transfer once more, and it is working. I wished to only have that chance to convey that, however I do not know that we’re very persuasive on that entrance, however that is okay. The individuals in my state have to know I am keen to take the battle wherever I’ve to.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So simply to clarify for our viewers, congestion pricing, you are speaking about this $9 toll you placed on individuals driving into decrease Manhattan, beneath sixtieth Road. Your fellow Democrat, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, says he does not like this coverage, really requested President Trump to cease it. President Trump’s workplace says that is discriminatory towards working class individuals. How do you reply to that?

GOV. HOCHUL: I reply this fashion with all due respect to the state of New Jersey. They don’t inform us in New York what to do, nor does Washington in relation to insurance policies that we consider are going to cut back congestion. Transfer alongside autos, emergency autos are transferring sooner. Air high quality is enhancing. So I’ve arguments which might be essential, however nobody else ought to be capable to second guess us, as a result of that is not how our system of legal guidelines and states was arrange. I am the Governor of New York. I’ll take care of the inner points earlier than me with out interference from New Jersey or certainly, the federal authorities.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that is going to the courts.

GOV. HOCHUL: Oh sure, it will the courts, and I consider we will probably be victorious within the courts, and this program will proceed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You already know, this isn’t the one standoff between the state and federal authorities, and the strain right here, I do know you have been in Washington with different governors who have been assembly with the President this week. Federal funds account for about 40% of your state’s funds. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funds to governors with a purpose to pressure compliance along with his agenda. Here is what he mentioned to the governor of Maine. Take a pay attention.

[VO SOT] 

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Is Maine right here, the Governor of Maine?

ME GOV JANET MILLS: Yeah, I am right here.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Are you not going to adjust to it?

ME GOV JANET MILLS: I am going to adjust to the state and federal legislation.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Nicely I am — we’re the federal legislation. Nicely you higher do it. You higher do it. Since you’re not going to get any federal funding in any respect in case you do not. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: That was about transgender athletes on women sports activities groups. Are you Democratic governors going to begin to work collectively on this? Is there authorized pushback?

GOV. HOCHUL: What he’s doing is that they’ve described it as flooding the zone. They’re attacking California in relation to FEMA {dollars}. They’re submitting lawsuits in Illinois. They are going after Maine on this, and so they’re coming after applications which have been duly put in place within the state- What they’re attempting to do is create this theater of every kind of exercise that’s attempting to be a distraction to us. And when somebody floods the zone in a soccer recreation, what you should have is the defenders be very disciplined, good, but in addition stand their floor. And that is precisely what New York governors, the governor of New York will do in cooperation with our governors. We’re not going to take a seat idly by and let our rights be attacked. We’ll work with you when there’s widespread floor, little doubt about it, let’s construct nice tasks and infrastructure. There’s areas the place we’ll work with you on immigration and getting the violent criminals off our streets. We don’t dispute that, however do not suppose that you would be able to simply are available in and bully us round and never count on a response from governors.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You already know that in relation to your state, there’s been a variety of give attention to Manhattan and the Division of Justice due to Eric Adams and the continued authorized points he has. Previously week, 4 deputy mayors resigned. Seven federal prosecutors resigned after the Trump justice division moved to dismiss these 5 counts of federal corruption indictments against- towards Mayor Adams. You already know, the allegation is that the dismissal of the fees was in- associated to a quid professional quo round immigration compliance. Did you talk about this case in any respect with the President once you have been within the room with him one on one?

GOV. HOCHUL: No, I didn’t. The truth is, it’s- we’re ready for the choice by a decide on whether or not he will settle for these suggestion for a dismissal. In order that’s nonetheless in litigation. However I’ll say this, we aren’t permitting the Trump administration to intervene within the operations of our metropolis, and the authorized issues that the mayor is dealing with due to the Trump administration, and the phrasing they’ve used, and certainly, an interview that was completed by one among his representatives on nationwide tv saying that he is principally acquired the mayor below his management. That is regarding, and I’ve to have the ability to put in safeguards. In fact, everybody says I had the choice to take away him. I nonetheless maintain that choice to take away him. It’s a rare energy. And I do know there’s lots of people disenchanted and offended and wish one thing completed instantly, however I’ll all the time stand on the truth that we’re a nation of legal guidelines, and one particular person, the governor of New York, mustn’t use her voice and her will to override the need of the voters. Now we have an election in a couple of months for- in a major, I will let the voters determine, however I am additionally going to be very cognizant. I have to keep watch over this case, particularly the way in which the Trump administration has telegraphed that they need to get into our operations, and I’ve to be the firewall to cease that. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So having mentioned that, does that imply you do consider there was a quid professional quo understanding with Eric Adams?

GOV. HOCHUL: I’m going by what the notion might be. I can’t let the integrity of the administration within the metropolis of New York be undermined by notion that the Trump administration really created, they created this notion, the truth I’ll by no means know, however so long as there’s the religion of New Yorkers that has been undermined by what the Trump administration doing is attempting to present the looks of holding town hostage, these are what-  that is precisely what they’re attempting to do. Once more, they’re attempting to create chaos. However we have now to be good as Democrats and as leaders and parse by means of all this and simply go do what’s proper. That may all the time be my North Star.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor Hochul, thanks on your time this morning. Face the Nation will probably be again in a single minute. Stick with us.