Sorting by

×

Governor Vows Revenge Against Trump

Advertisements

Democrats are already planning on creating huge problems.

After President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in 2016, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy made it clear that he would stand in opposition to Trump’s administration if it clashed with what he saw as New Jersey’s values. Murphy stated that while he respected the peaceful transfer of power, he would “fight to the death” if Washington threatened the Garden State’s interests, particularly on issues he deemed important to the state’s identity. However, he also expressed a willingness to find areas of common ground with Trump when possible.

New Jersey State Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, a Republican, quickly fired back at Murphy’s combative rhetoric. DiMaio argued that Murphy was out of touch with the voters’ message, particularly given Trump’s close performance in the state during the 2016 election. “It’s time for Governor Murphy to recognize that his values may not reflect the priorities of most New Jerseyans,” DiMaio remarked, adding that instead of engaging in constant political battles with Trump, the governor should focus on the struggles of working families, small business owners, and taxpayers who were demanding more attention to their needs.

Advertisements

Murphy’s criticism of Trump included acknowledging the former president’s remarkable ability to connect with voters, even if it wasn’t always in their best interests. Murphy also pointed to Trump’s narrow loss in New Jersey, a state that had historically leaned heavily Democratic, as a sign of growing discontent with the establishment. In fact, Trump only lost the state by 4%, a sharp improvement over his 16% loss in 2020. Despite this, Murphy downplayed any suggestion that New Jersey was becoming a “swing state.”

Murphy also took the opportunity to criticize Trump’s approach to issues like immigration, noting the challenges posed by ICE operations under the former president. He claimed to have personally intervened to prevent ICE raids in his local community, an example of the lengths he was willing to go to defend what he viewed as New Jersey’s values.

As Murphy’s time as governor draws to a close, he faces the looming 2025 gubernatorial race, which will likely highlight the ongoing divide between New Jersey’s progressive leadership and the growing influence of conservative voices in the state. His narrow 2021 victory may serve as a warning sign for Democrats about the shifting political landscape in New Jersey.