Governor Andrew Cuomo seemed to hint at a theme for a possible presidential run in 2020.
“We’re going to make America American again,” Cuomo said on Wednesday, as he accepted the endorsement of the health care workers union Local 1199.
After his speech at Madison Square Garden, Cuomo tried to downplay talk about a White House run, saying that he was quoting the Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be America Again.” However, his speech was critical of President Donald Trump.
“We’re going to say to Mr. Trump, ‘We’re going to hold you accountable for what you’ve done to our country,” Cuomo said.
The governor also spoke out against the federal government as a whole and its failure to take action on gun control measures. Seventeen people were killed on Valentine’s Day when a gunman opened fire at a school in Parkland, Florida.
“How many young people have to die? How many innocents have to die before this nation will come to its senses and the leadership will stand up and actually lead? We have high school students who are showing more leadership than our Washington elected officials,” Cuomo said.
After the school shooting last week, Cuomo called on the federal government to pass tougher gun control laws. He touted New York’s tough restrictions and urged the federal government to follow suit.
“The horrific shooting at a school in Florida once again has this nation asking how Congress can in good conscience continue to turn a blind eye to the dangers of gun violence,” Cuomo said last week.
Governor Cuomo has routinely downplayed talk of running for president, but he has become more outspoken on national issues in recent months and has been a critic of President Trump. Cuomo is up for re-election as governor in November.
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