On Your TV: Democratic Governors Slam Trump’s Job-Killing Tariffs, Attacks on Critical Programs, and Threats to Democracy

On Your TV: Democratic Governors Slam Trump’s Job-Killing Tariffs, Attacks on Critical Programs, and Threats to Democracy

As Trump celebrated his disastrous 100-day record of raising costs on working families, threatening Social Security and health care, and attacking public schools, Democratic governors took to national TV and radio shows to condemn Trump’s policies that continue to make life harder for working families.

Here’s a few examples of how Democratic governors spoke out against Trump and his administration’s dangerous policies while standing up for the people in their states.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFrontand NPR’s Morning Edition: “I can tell you what governors are doing, in particular, Democratic governors, we’re on the front lines. We’re seeing firsthand the impact of President Trump’s action. We’re seeing what it means to have veterans services gutted and people laid off in our states. We understand what it means to have education funding slashed and the effect on our students, especially poor students and students with special needs and disabilities.”

DGA Vice Chair Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on Fox’s The Story with Martha MacCallum: “I see two incredibly concerning threats out there from [Trump’s] administration, if not three. First is the tariffs …having a significant negative impact on our economy, and will continue to do so. Second are the threats in Medicaid cuts that will gut, if not eliminate health care coverage across all of rural America. And third, and I’m seeing this firsthand as governor, these massive firings in the federal government are creating either so few people, or too inexperienced of people, that are left to run some basic programs that the American people count on.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore on ABC’s The View: “I talk to these farmers who have had family business for over 100 years, who are now wondering if they can survive the next six months, because of these tariff policies … I talk to families who are watching prices increase, and I talk to federal workers who are losing their jobs daily … The pain is coming from the federal government … What people are also seeing is, what’s the power of governors? What’s the power of states? What’s the power of the people?”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live and MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki: “[Trump] told us he was going to lower prices for people, he told us that he was going to make the world a safer place, that he was going to bring peace in Ukraine, and the fact is, he’s done none of those things, and indeed the opposite of that. Now what he’s doing is raising prices and taxes on middle class Americans, working class Americans, in order to give a massive tax cut to the wealthiest people in the country.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on CNN News Central: “A president who took the oath of office not once, but twice, understands that there are limitations, and that is the body of the Constitution. He must follow it. Otherwise the democracy that we’ve fought for and upheld for 250 years is just going to go down the drain, and we’re not going to let that happen … It tells you all you need to know about this presidency and [Trump] – that he doesn’t give a damn about the U.S. Constitution.”

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Bloomberg Balance of Power: “[Cuts to Medicaid would be] devastating … More than 400 rural hospitals are barely surviving. 46%, frankly, of all rural hospitals barely make it under the current system … [Congressional Republicans] take out $880 million, those hospitals close. All of those outcomes: maternal health, infant mortality, all the things that we need to do better as a country all fall apart – less access to obstetrics. As a state that’s trying to build healthcare access, this is bad. Terrible.”

DGA Chair Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Bloomberg Balance of Power: “The first 100 days of this administration has just sown chaos and uncertainty all across the country … In my state alone, we have worked so hard over the last six years, and have been very successful, in growing our economy, in bringing in new and different industries into our state, creating 75,000 jobs, bringing in $22 billion worth of new capital investment, which is huge for a state like Kansas. All of what we’ve been doing is getting put up in the air as the companies that we have recruited, the companies that are here, are dealing with all of this chaos and uncertainty on the tariff issue, and they don’t know where to go or what will work as they move forward.”

Hawaii Governor Josh Green on CNN’s The Lead With Jake Tapper: “It’s big trouble if we go the route RFK Jr. is going. He is really trying to apply an anti-vaccine ideology to his job, and this is the last job in the country that should be doing that. I hope the president replaces him soon … This is not partisan, this is not political. [RFK Jr.] is just bad news for healthcare and public health.”

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer on NewsNation’s The Hill: “Life is getting harder and harder for working people. I think a lot of people, quite frankly, a lot of good people, thought that President Trump may address that issue when he came in. 100 days in, it doesn’t look too good.”

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