OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
12:10 PM – Saturday, May 16, 2026
President Donald Trump fired back at New York Governor Kathy Hochul for blaming him and his administration for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Strike.
At 12:01 a.m. local time on Saturday, over 3,500 workers across five unions, including engineers, ticket clerks, signalmen, electricians and machinists, walked off the job after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) failed to make an agreement with them to raise their wages. The MTA warned a raise would force fare increases.
More than 330,000 Long Island commuters will now need to find alternative transportation or start working from home, according to Fox News.
Hochul (D-N.Y.) made a statement on Saturday praising her own investments in the LIRR, which she claimed is “more stable now than it has been for generations.” She condemned the unions’ demands and strike, as well as Trump’s alleged involvement.
“The disruption that Long Islanders face starting tonight is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike,” she stated.
Trump contended in a Truth Social post on Saturday that he had not been aware of the issue before the strike over the weekend.
“Failed New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, a Dumacrat, just blamed ME for her Long Island Railroad STRIKE, when she knows, full well, that I have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT – never even heard about it until this morning. She just blurted out, ‘it’s President Trump’s fault,’” he wrote. “No, Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen. If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done.”
“This would be an easy one for BRUCE BLAKEMAN. He should be your next Governor and New York State would turn around fast, including far less Crime, and much lower taxes!!! Kathy, call me if you can’t do it, I will get it done,” he added.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is the only Republican candidate running for governor of New York to replace Hochul. He also responded to Hochul’s formal statement.
“Governor Hochul’s incompetence in handling labor relation from nurses to corrections officers and now railroad workers puts the safety of everyday New Yorkers in jeopardy,” he asserted. “Blaming the LIRR strike on President Trump is so disingenuous it is laughable. Hochul runs the MTA and she alone bears responsibility for the disruption of services.”
The LIRR issued a warning that service is indefinitely suspended due to the large strike.
“Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible. We will have limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute,” the LIRR posted on X overnight.
The New York Mets said it will provide additional Citi Field Direct Shuttle service from Roosevelt Field and Walt Whitman Shops, as well as new shuttle routes from the Manhasset LIRR Station serving the Port Washington Line area, to help Long Islanders excited to watch the Mets vs. Yankees Subway Series games this weekend. It will also dispatch shuttles from the Bronx, Staten Island and New Jersey.
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