Trump Criticizes Surrogacy Bill at Syracuse Rally

During a rally in Syracuse, President Donald Trump criticized a New York surrogacy bill while campaigning for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman. His comments targeted legislation that alters terminology related to surrogacy, particularly how it replaces ‘mother’ and ‘father’ with terms like ‘gestating parent’ and ‘non-gestating parent.’

Speaking to supporters at the Oncenter, Trump mocked the language changes in the law. He jokingly said, ‘You can no longer say ‘mother, hi mom!’ It’s ‘hi gestating.’’ This drew laughter from the audience as he continued, ‘Hi gestating, I love you so much gestating.’

Trump expanded his criticism by linking the bill to Governor Kathy Hochul’s stances on transgender healthcare for children and their participation in women’s sports. Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson also joined Trump on stage, expressing his support by referring to Trump as ‘my president.’

According to reports from the New York Post, several thousand supporters attended the event. The speaker from Governor Hochul’s office stated that no legislation impacts the perception that ‘mothers are mothers and fathers are fathers.’

The dispute over terminology in the legislation has emerged as a significant issue in the election campaign. The bill changes language in parentage proceedings, using ‘gestating’ and ‘non-gestating’ instead of traditional family terms. Supporters argue the terms address legal technicalities in surrogacy cases, while critics worry about undermining the roles of parents and increasing state control.

Blakeman and Hochul’s Divergent Views

President Trump’s comments shifted focus to Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County official challenging Hochul. Trump declared that New York should elect Blakeman and criticized the current administration as ‘radical left.’

Blakeman had previously termed the legislation ‘insane,’ claiming it strips control from parents and criticizes traditional family roles. He argued that decisions left to parents are being taken over by Albany.

A representative from Hochul’s office refuted this, suggesting that the bill addresses technical legal issues with surrogacy and urges caution against deceptive political arguments aimed at misleading the public.

This highlights a central disagreement: Republicans frame the vocabulary change as an ideological shift, while Hochul’s office insists it’s focused on legal accuracy.

Polls Indicate Hochul’s Lead

Despite the controversy, polls suggest that Hochul maintains a lead over Blakeman. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11 News survey, conducted from October 3 to 5, showed Hochul ahead by 12 points among 900 likely voters. The Marist Poll from October 1 to 4 indicated an 11-point lead for Hochul over Blakeman among 1,361 registered voters.

Surveys from September depicted a wider gap: Quinnipiac University found a 19-point advantage for Hochul, while Siena University Poll reported a nine-point lead. Although poll margins varied, every survey indicated Hochul’s consistent lead.