In a sharp but humorous critique, New York Governor Kathy Hochul questioned Donald Trump’s choice to hold a rally in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, dubbing it a potential “white flag of surrender.” On MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” Hochul suggested that Trump’s surprising return to NYC, a place where he’s notoriously unpopular, hints at a retreat from the national campaign trail, adding a personal touch to her analysis.
“I think he’s waving the white flag,” Hochul quipped, noting that Trump seems to be stepping back rather than charging forward in the final days of election season. “He’s coming back to a city he knows well,” she explained, hinting that nostalgia and comfort may be guiding Trump’s decision. “Maybe he just wants to sleep in his own bed—when you get older, there’s a comfort in familiar things.”
Hochul pointed out how Trump’s recent rally cancellations stand in stark contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris’s active appearances in battleground states like Pennsylvania.
But the New York governor couldn’t resist a parting joke. “If he plans to stick around for nine days, I’ll make sure he has tickets to Broadway,” she laughed. “Maybe a little inspiration will get him to do the right thing.”
Hochul’s comments highlight how Trump’s decision to rally in NYC—a place where he’s seen more protesters than supporters in recent years—raises eyebrows and even sparks curiosity about what may lie ahead for the former president.
