Trump tariffs jacking up prices, crushing family budgets: New York governor

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump’s tariffs as a “disguised tax” and flagged the extent of the impact on common Americans in her state. She chose to do so in New York’s 24th Congressional district, which is the most Republican-leaning constituency in the state.

“It is nothing other than a disguise tax. And who would you do that with? One of our greatest allies, people that we know as our friends and neighbors, the people of the great country of Canada,” said Hochul as she slammed two signature policies of Trump.

On the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, Hochul flagged that millions will lose their social security and thousands will lose their jobs as a result of budget cuts. She said that these cuts will not spare even the Republican-leaning district she was speaking in.

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Outside of the far-right Maga world, the One Big Beautiful Bill was widely condemned as it raised the federal deficit and cut medical aid and food assistance to middle- and low-income Americans that had long had bipartisan approval.

‘The cost of everything is going to go up’

In a bid to strike a chord with the working class, Hochul said that Trump’s tariffs will raise the cost of living for American families.

Indeed, contrary to what Trump has said, foreign governments do not pay tariffs. Instead, tariffs are taxes on imports that importers pay to the US government. The illiteracy is such that a survey found that 75 per cent of Americans do not know what tariffs are.

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Hochul said, “The cost of everything is going to go up — everything. And all the hard-earned work you do to bring home that paycheck, it’s going to go less and less to buy the groceries you need like the ones we see here. Real consequences when parents start heading back to the stores for back-to-school shopping — something I’m really glad I don’t have to do anymore, but I know what it’s like. We used to try and figure it out. Where are we going to get our clothes from for the kids? How are we going to manage this? They outgrew their sneakers from the year before; the backpack looks a little ratty, time for a new one; they outgrew the clothes.”

Hochul said that the cost of housing will go up even if she wants to expand housing because Canadian labour that is part of the workforce has become expensive as a result of tariffs.

As Trump has gone after Canada in every way possible, ranging from slapping sky-high tariffs and threatening to annex the country and make it the 51st US state, Hochul said that New York’s tourism sector has also taken a hit as Canadians no longer want to visit the United States over Trump’s insults.

Hochul flags extent of Trump’s welfare cuts

Hochul flagged the extent of cuts to welfare under Trump’s signature legislation.

Hochul said that 1.5 million New Yorkers will lose their health insurance coverage, including 30,000 in the Republican-leaning 24th Congressional district.

“These cuts will decimate our entire health care system, our hospitals and providers…. They don’t think people are smart enough to remember what they did to them. My job is to remind you what they’re doing to you and our community,” said Hochul.

Moreover, around 84,000 children will lose food assistance and healthcare costs will rise by 33 per cent for an average couple, according to Hochul.

As a result of cuts, 34,000 people in the state will lose their jobs in the hospital, including around 1,000 in the Republican-leaning district, said Hochul.