President Trump's threat to send National Guard to NYC is insulting to local police, Gov. Kathy Hochul says
Gov. Kathy Hochul is slamming President Trump for threatening to send the National Guard to New York to fight crime.
The president announced Monday that he is deploying members of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., as the federal government takes control of the capital's police. Mr. Trump says it's in an effort to "rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse." Data shows crime has declined in D.C. in recent years.
"Focus on something else"
Mr. Trump also suggested New York state could use his help in fighting crime by sending in National Guard to patrol the streets.
"You're gonna now militarize our streets like that? I mean, focus on straightening out the rest of the world, all the tariffs you screwed everything up with. You know, try to make it up with Canada. Focus on something else," Hochul said.
She added, "If he crosses that bright line and decides that the 32,000 dedicated members of the NYPD are not doing their jobs, if he's going to stand there and insult our law enforcement officers, I think there'll be people in outrage over that alone."
Hochul, who herself deployed the National Guard into the subway system last year says she will do everything in her power to prevent the president from sending troops to New York if he decides to do so.
"I will look at all my powers, but I have a feeling that right around that time, my National Guard might be really busy on other issues," she said.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News New York's Ali Bauman, Mayor Eric Adams also asserted New York state doesn't need the National Guard to patrol its cities.
"I could only say it in three words: we got this," he said.
Adams said the Trump administration has not spoken to him about sending the National Guard to New York City.
"This is the safest big city in America, and you're seeing the numbers continue to decrease," Adams said. "If the federal government wants to partner with us to go after some real laws to stop dangerous people from having guns, those with mental health issues getting access to guns, we look forward to having that coordination in that manner."
President Trump calls to change cashless bail laws
New York was also the focus of the president's call for national legislation to change cashless bail laws.
"Every place in the country where you have no cash bail is a disaster. That's what started the problem in New York, and they don't change it," Mr. Trump said Monday.
Upstate Congresswoman Elise Stefanik supported the president on the issue.
"New York's failed cashless bail law fuels devastating crime that harms law-abiding families and emboldens violent criminals," she said in a statement.
Hochul laid into both Stefanik and the president.
"Why don't you call her out for lying? Call out the president for lying," Hochul said. "We do not have cashless bail in the state of New York ... They're wrong. They're both wrong. They're making stuff up. Get used to that for the duration of the next campaign year."
New York law does, however, limit the use of cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. Judges do have discretion to set bail in some cases, like violent felonies.
Stefanik gaining on Hochul in polls for potential gubernatorial race matchup
Stefanik is a potential challenger for Hochul in the 2026 gubernatorial race, and a new Siena poll out Tuesday sees Stefanik's chances improving. Hochul's lead over Stefanik has fallen from 23 points to 14 points.
Downstate suburban voters, including those on Long Island and in Westchester and Rockland counties, went from favoring Hochul by 11 points in June to now narrowly favoring Stefanik.
Upstate voters who gave Hochul a 12-point lead are virtually evenly divided.
Meanwhile, Adams trails his competitors in the mayoral race. The incumbent is at 7%, 18 points below former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and 37 points below Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
"This is going to be the most unique mayoral race in the history of this city," Adams said. "And a lot of first-time voters are going to come out. That's gonna change this dynamic."
Former Gov. David Paterson is expected to officially endorse Adams on Wednesday.