Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul has appeared on national television and smeared supporters of President Donald Trump as “clowns.”
Gov. Hochul made the derogatory comments during a Thursday appearance on CNN ahead of Trump’s New York City rally in the Bronx.
Speaking with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, 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.
“New York will never, ever support Donald Trump for president.
“We know him better than anyone and that means we understand what he’s all about.
“He’s just for himself,” the Democrat governor claimed.
“So, this state will go solidly behind Joe Biden for president as it has in the past.
“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.”
WATCH:
WOW — Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul says President Trump's New York supporters are "clowns" pic.twitter.com/rX8kqQkxU3
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 23, 2024
In response to Hochul’s comments, the Trump campaign issued a statement saying:
“Kathy Hocul 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, who has been in the state recently for his “hush money” trial, has said he thinks he has a good chance of winning the state in November.
The 45th president remains confident even though New York hasn’t voted Republican since 1984.
A recent Siena College poll showed Democrat President Joe Biden with just a nine-point lead over Trump (47% to 38%) in the state.
Biden won the state handily in 2020 with 60.8%, showing a significant drop in support since the last election.
In a statement, David Laska, director of communications for the New York GOP, said:
“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.
“This follows her appalling recent remarks labeling Catholics as ‘right-wing extremists’ and her suggestion that Black kids have never seen a computer before.
“It’s time for Governor Hochul to apologize to the hardworking citizens she continues to alienate with her elitist, offensive rhetoric.
“The people of New York deserve a leader who respects their diversity of thought and beliefs and who is committed to working for everyone, not just those who align with her political views.”
Two years ago, Hochul also raised the ire of Republicans when she told GOP candidates in the state to “get out of town” and “head to Florida” where they belong.
“We’re here to say that the era of Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro — just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong,” Hochul said in 2022.
“Get out of town.
“You don’t represent our values.”
The comments reminded some of twice-failed Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comments from a New York fundraiser in 2016.
“You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right?” Clinton said at the time.
“The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic — you name it.
“And unfortunately, there are people like that.
“And he has lifted them up.”
Meanwhile, the crowds attending Trump’s rally debunked Hochel’s “clown” claims.
WATCH:
STFD! The Bronx is MAGA country 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/DrO8aHpMLz
— E 🇺🇸 (@Simply4Truth_) May 23, 2024
AMAZING! Happening Now in THE BRONX! #TRUMP2024 pic.twitter.com/pmuqiZZgG0
— Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) May 23, 2024
Attendees at the rally also had a message for the Democrats that spells doom for Biden.
WATCH:
BRONX RESIDENT: Biden's "policies only HURT black people!" pic.twitter.com/P93RFTz4DU
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 23, 2024
READ MORE – Georgia Prosecutor Nathan Wade Issues Warning to Trump: ‘Day of Reckoning Is Coming’
