Governor Kathy Hochul recently stated that she confronted President Trump regarding his lack of Congressional authorization for actions in Venezuela during a call on Monday.
She also unexpectedly claimed credit for inspiring the nationwide “No Kings” protests against Trump, coinciding with the first anniversary of congestion pricing.
While celebrating this anniversary, Hochul, along with Mayor Zoran Mamdani, MTA CEO Janno Lieber, and transportation advocates, informed Trump that the initiative to charge drivers in lower Manhattan has been effective.
However, when the topic of the U.S. military action against Venezuela and the capture of dictator Nicolas Maduro arose, Hochul expressed her opposition. “I’m against it,” she said.
“You need to consult Congress. Gaining that authority is, well, pretty important for actions of that nature,” she added.
She reportedly told Trump, “Maduro is a bad guy, but he needs to have legitimate authority.”
Desiring to align herself with the progressive wing as she prepares for re-election amid a challenge from former Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, Hochul joins other Democrats criticizing the Venezuela operation, with some even calling for Trump’s impeachment.
The Justice Democrats, a progressive group supporting figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, accused Trump of pursuing a regime change in Venezuela for the benefit of oil interests. They stated, “This unconstitutional regime change war aims to seize Venezuelan oil for President Trump’s billionaire Big Oil friends.” They also claimed Trump had informed these companies prior to the strike, labeling the action as American imperialism.
Here are the latest updates on the capture of Nicolas Maduro:
Hochul appeared alongside left-wing activists advocating for a gradual $15 congestion charge for vehicles. At a February 2024 press conference supporting congestion pricing, she displayed a mock Time magazine cover portraying Trump as a king, criticized his stance against the tolls, and asserted her influence over the “No Kings” protests.
“I was angry about what I heard. It’s still frustrating whenever I think about it,” Hochul stated. “We don’t serve a king, and I believe that sentiment fueled the ‘No King’ demonstrations across the country.”
The governor’s office has reported success from the congestion toll, highlighting statistics that show an 11% decrease in traffic entering Manhattan below 60th Street and a 20% drop in pollution over the past year.
