Hochul Tells Trump to “Stop Threatening Us” in Exclusive Interview on Sanctuary City Funding
January 13, 2026 - Albany, NY - Governor Kathy Hochul delivers the 2026 State of the State Address in Albany. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s warnings to cut federal funding for sanctuary cities, telling him to “stop threatening us” during an exclusive one-on-one interview with FOX 5 NY political reporter Morgan McKay.
In the interview, Hochul discussed priorities from her recent 2026 State of the State address, including proposals aimed at easing affordability pressures and strengthening public trust in elections. One major issue she highlighted was the growing concern over AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes and misleading political ads. Hochul said New Yorkers should be able to trust what they see and hear during elections, adding that the state’s Board of Elections would play a role in enforcing restrictions on AI-driven political content.
Hochul also addressed rising tensions between New York and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. She proposed new legislation that would allow New Yorkers to sue federal officers if their constitutional rights are violated. She described the measure as a way to give residents a “private right of action” through the court system.
During the interview, Hochul pointed to a recent incident involving a New York City Council employee detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling it an example of “blatant” abuse of power. She said actions like that can weaken public confidence not only in federal agencies, but also in local law enforcement such as the NYPD and state police. However, Hochul noted she does not support calls to completely defund ICE.
The governor also responded directly to Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities, including New York City, possibly as soon as next month. Hochul rejected the pressure, urging the president to stop using funding threats as a political tool.
When asked about the possibility of raising taxes, Hochul suggested it was unlikely, saying New York already has enough revenue to support the state and she does not see a clear justification for increasing taxes at this time.
