President Trump and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul held a “productive” meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, where they discussed congestion pricing and the redevelopment of Penn Station, a spokesperson for the governor said.
The high-stakes face-to-face came amid growing tensions between Trump and Hochul in recent weeks, especially after the feds moved to kill the congestion pricing, and sued the Empire State over its sanctuary city policies for undocumented immigrants.
Hochul had even cast herself as leader of the anti-Trump “resistance” as recently as last week – though her harsh words faded away after her latest sit-down with the president.
A spokesperson for Hochul said the pair discussed a broad range of topics, including Penn Station, congestion pricing, tariffs and energy policy.
“While no formal agreements or decisions were reached, it was a productive conversation and we look forward to continuing the dialogue in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.
The statement from Hochul’s camp didn’t provide any more details on the talks. But last time Trump and Hochul met, the governor provided him with “a booklet on the early success of congestion pricing.”
The MTA faces a March 21 deadline from the Federal Highway Administration to stop collecting the $9 toll on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
Hochul and MTA officials, however, are fighting the feds in court and have vowed to keep collecting tolls.
Trump, before the Oval Office meeting, said he wanted to revive the Constitution pipeline, a project killed by New York regulators in 2016 over concerns it could impact clean water supplies.
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