Trump mocks New York gestating parent bill and attacks Hochul at Syracuse rally

President Donald Trump mocked a New York State bill that would replace the words mother and father with "gestating parent" and "non‑gestating parent" during a campaign rally in Syracuse on Oct. 9, 2026.

The former president blamed Governor Kathy Hochul for supporting the legislation, calling her a "radical left lunatic" and linking the language change to what he described as "transgender mutilation" of children and men in women’s sports.

Trump quoted the proposed wording, saying, "You can no longer say mother, 'hi mom.' It's 'hi gestating,'" and added, "Hi gestating! I love you so much, gestating mom," prompting laughter from the several‑thousand attendees.

He used the moment to promote Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, urging the crowd to "throw out this radical left lunatic and elect Bruce Blakeman" to bring New York "back into shape." Blakeman currently trails Hochul by 11 points in a Marist poll and is within single digits in a recent Siena University survey.

Hochul’s office said the bill, which would also replace "paternity" with "parentage," is still under review but defended it as addressing "technical legal issues related to surrogacy and parentage." The spokesperson added that critics are making "bad‑faith arguments" and deliberately misleading New Yorkers for political gain.

Trump’s remarks were part of a broader rally that also featured a surprise appearance by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who briefly took the stage to support the campaign effort.

The event underscored the upcoming November election’s focus on cultural issues, with Trump positioning the gestating‑parent proposal as emblematic of a larger “woke” agenda he says threatens traditional family language.

Election officials have not indicated any immediate legislative action on the bill, and the debate over the terminology is expected to continue as candidates sharpen their positions ahead of the November ballot.