Transcript: Gov. Kathy Hochul on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 23, 2025
Below is a record of the interview with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York, aired on February 23, 2025 on “National Facing Margaret Brennan” .
Margaret Brennan: We are now turning to Trump’s clash with the Democratic governor. Governor Kathy Hochul is now joining us from Albany, New York, good morning Governor.
government. Kathy Hochul: Good morning.
Margaret Brennan: I know you’re in Washington, and you met with President Trump in private. In the past, you have said that this relationship is not necessarily confrontational. Do you meet his confrontation? What is your latest news?
government. Hochul: It was a confrontation meeting, but I was very clear, especially after I discovered that the Trump administration ended a plan that had been officially elected by our legislature, representing the voice of the people, who claimed he was King, therefore he has the power to destroy it. I have problems with this trait because we worked under the king 250 years ago and as I said, we did not return there. So I want to submit my case directly to him and let him see the benefits of the plan because our city is paralyzed with the stalemate, we have a way to make the city move again, and it is working. I just want to have a chance to convey this, but I don’t know we’re very persuasive in this regard, but that’s OK. People in my state need to know that I am willing to fight anywhere I have to.
Margaret Brennan: So to explain to our audience the price of traffic jams, you’re talking about the people who drive into Lower Manhattan below 60th Street $9 damage. Your Democrat, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, said he doesn’t like the policy and actually asks President Trump to stop it. President Trump’s office said it was discriminatory against working-class people. How do you respond?
government. Hochul: I have all the respect I deserve to have for New Jersey. They don’t tell us what to do in New York, nor does Washington have any policies we think will reduce congestion. Moving along the vehicle, emergency vehicles travel faster. Air quality is improving. So my argument is important, but no one else should be able to guess us because that is not how our laws and state systems are built. I am the governor of New York. I will deal with previous internal issues without New Jersey or federal intervention.
Margaret Brennan: So this is going to court.
government. Hochul: Oh yeah, it’s going to go to court, I believe we’re going to win in court and the plan will continue.
Margaret Brennan: You know, this isn’t the only deadlock between the state and the federal government, and the tension here, I know you’re in Washington with other governors who meet with the president this week. Federal funds account for approximately 40% of your state budget. President Trump threatens to withhold federal funds from the governor to force his agenda. This is what he said to the governor of Maine. Listen.
(vo sot)
President Donald Trump: Is Maine the Governor of Maine?
Janet Mills, My Government: Yes, I’m here.
President Trump: Are you unwilling to comply?
My Government Janet Mills: I will comply with state and federal laws.
President Trump: I-We are federal law. OK, you’d better do it. You’d better do it. Because if you don’t do that, you won’t get any federal funding at all.
Margaret Brennan: It’s about trans athletes on the women’s sports team. Do you want to start working together for this? Is there any legal promotion?
government. Hochul: What he is doing is they describe it as flooding the area. When it comes to FEMA dollars, they are attacking California. They are filing a lawsuit in Illinois. They are following Maine, they are following plans that have been properly in the state – what they are trying to do is create theaters of various activities, trying to distract us. When someone floods the area in a football game, what you need to have is the defender who is very disciplined, smart, but also stands up. This is exactly the governor of New York, who will work with our governor. We won’t stand by and let our rights be attacked. We will undoubtedly work with you to build great projects and infrastructure. In some areas, we will work with you and take violent criminals out of our streets. We didn’t object to this, but don’t think you can come in and bully us instead of expecting the governor to react.
Margaret Brennan: You know, when it comes to your state, people have been paying attention to Manhattan and the Justice Department because of Eric Adams and his ongoing legal issues. Four deputy mayors have resigned in the past week. Seven federal prosecutors resigned after the Trump Justice Department dismissed five counts of federal corruption prosecution against Mayor Adams. You know, the allegation is that the allegation dismissal is related to the quirks surrounding immigration compliance. Did you discuss the case completely with the president when you were in his one-on-one room?
government. Hochul: No, I don’t. Actually, this is – we are waiting for the judge to decide whether to accept the dismissal. So this is still in the lawsuit. But I want to say that we do not allow the Trump administration to interfere in our city’s actions, and the legal issues the mayor faces due to the Trump administration, and the wording they use, indeed, an interview was made by one of his representatives. Finished on state television, he said he basically put the mayor under control. This is worrying, and I must be able to guarantee it. Of course, everyone said I could choose to delete him. I still hold this choice to delete him. This is an extraordinary power. And I know a lot of people are disappointed and angry and want to do something right away, but I will always stand in the fact that we are a legal country, a person, the governor of New York, should not use her voice and her voice will cover the will of voters. For months we have run the elections in the primary and I will let voters decide, but I will also be very aware of it. I need to pay attention to this situation, especially the Trump administration’s telegram about them wanting to enter our actions, I have to be a firewall to stop it.
Margaret Brennan: So, does that mean you do believe Eric Adams has a quirk understanding?
government. Hochul: What is I want to see through. I can’t let the perceptions actually created by the Trump administration undermine the integrity of the New York administration, they created this perception, a reality I would never know, but as long as there is a New Yorker belief in what the Trump administration does undermine the attempt The look of the city hostages kidnap, that’s what they’re trying to do. Again, they try to cause chaos. But we have to be as smart as Democrats and leaders and parse in all of this and then do the right thing. That will always be my North Star.
Margaret Brennan: Governor Hochul, thank you for this morning. Facing the country will come back within a minute. Be with us.
