President Donald Trump is not a fan of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s deal with the City Council to end horse-drawn carriage rides, a popular and historic tourist attraction in Central Park.
“So sad to see the beloved Central Park Horse-drawn Carriage Industry ending after over a Century, based largely on one tragic accident,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
In June, an 18-year-old tourist died after falling off a runaway carriage in Central Park when the horse bolted. The incident caught the attention of city officials and advocates, who have long been concerned about the traffic safety risks and horse fatalities associated with the carriages.
Last week, Mamdani announced the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City was “coming to an end” after making a deal with City Council Speaker Julie Menin to pave the way for legislation that would make operating horse-drawn carriages in the city illegal starting in June 2028.
The bill, called Romanch’s Law, faces a council vote on Thursday afternoon. The measure was named after Romanch Mahajan, the man who died in the June accident. Trump did not comment on the legislation itself.
“When there is a car accident in the area, of which there are many, they don’t stop cars from entering the Park,” Trump said. “So why would they stop the Carriages? It was a Great Tradition. Another piece of History that’s gone. It will be missed!”
The president, who built his business empire in Manhattan, raised the issue again in a subsequent Truth Social post.
“The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience,” he wrote. “So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!”
The city’s move to ban horse-drawn carriages is one of many issues on which Trump and Mamdani disagree despite their cordial professional relationship.
While the Mamdani administration fully supports Romanch’s Law, New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, warned that incoming lawsuits will come against the city government in response to the “unconstitutional” ban.
MAMDANI SAYS NYC HORSE CARRIAGES ‘COMING TO AN END’ AFTER DEAL WITH SPEAKER
“There will be a lawsuit coming up because this is unconstitutional,” Paladino told Fox News. “Intro 943 is unconstitutional. Lawsuits are going to be filed immediately after this effort is passed. They’re going to be tangled up in legalese.”
The bill is backed by animal rights groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. About 40 carriage horses have died on the job in New York City since 1982 due to various factors, including traffic collisions and heat exhaustion.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
