Hochul says Democratic governors won't "sit idly by" as Trump threatens retaliation [View all]

Source: CBS News

February 23, 2025 / 12:13 PM EST


Washington — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday that Democratic governors won't "sit idly by" as President Trump threatens to retaliate if state leaders don't comply with his agenda. "Don't think that you can just come in and bully us around and not expect a reaction from governors," Hochul said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

When governors from both sides of the aisle met with Mr. Trump at a White House event Friday, the president called out Maine Gov. Janet Mills, saying that her state wouldn't get federal funding if it doesn't comply with an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing on women's sports teams. Mills replied, "See you in court."

Hochul said Mr. Trump and his administration are "flooding the zone," citing disputes over FEMA recovery funds in California, lawsuits in Illinois and the confrontation with Mills.

"What they're trying to do is create this theater of all kinds of activity that is trying to be a distraction to us," Hochul said. "And when someone floods the zone in a football game, what you need to have is the defenders be very disciplined, smart, but also stand their ground."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kathy-hochul-trump-face-the-nation/