Trump Criticizes NY Council for Ending Historic Central Park Carriages

Donald Trump slammed the New York City Council on Thursday for voting to shut down a 150-year tradition in Central Park. The council passed a bill backed by Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani that will end horse-drawn carriage rides by June 2028. This decision follows the tragic death of an 18-year-old Indian tourist named Romanch Mahajan, who died after jumping from a runaway carriage last spring. Trump, who was born in New York, took to Truth Social to express his disappointment over the move. He argued that officials are using fear based on one accident to end an industry that has thrived for generations.

So sad to see the beloved Central Park Horse-drawn Carriage Industry ending after over a century, based largely on one tragic accident, Trump wrote in his post. He pointed out the double standard in city safety rules. When there is a car accident in the area, of which there are many, they don't stop cars from entering the park. So why would they stop the carriages? Trump noted that this was a great tradition and another piece of history that's gone. It will be missed! He also claimed the vote happened for political reasons rather than safety concerns.

The legislation requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office to develop a plan by next April to help workers find new jobs. More than 150 drivers face unemployment if the ban goes into effect. However, the provisions are vague and do not set clear benchmarks for displaced workers. Instead of strict requirements, it requires City Hall to come up with a program that includes job referrals, career counseling and educational opportunities. The Daily Mail has reached out to both Mamdani and New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin for comment on this sudden shift in policy.

The administration now has the green light to explore compensation options for those who lose their livelihoods. City Hall reports that officials are actively crafting a workforce transition program and have already opened talks regarding potential payouts. A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani confirmed this direction, stating, 'The mayor will sign this bill, and the Mamdani administration is working every day to ensure we can do so while providing the strongest possible protections for the owners and workers in this industry.'

Council Speaker Julie Menin plans to stay involved as the transition moves forward. Her office noted that the new law answers a decades-old question about out-of-work carriage drivers by setting a strict deadline for City Hall to act. 'These workers deserve to be protected,' Menin said. She helped push for the ban, arguing horses no longer fit alongside pedestrians, cyclists, dog-walkers, and tourists in Central Park.

For more than 150 years, horse-drawn carriages have rolled through the park. That tradition is ending soon, marking a major shift for an iconic New York sight that draws visitors but has long drawn criticism from animal welfare groups. The union representing drivers vowed to file a legal challenge immediately once the legislation was signed. Betsy Smith, head of the Central Park Conservancy, welcomed the vote. She told them, 'In the modern era, carriages pose a serious - and even fatal - safety risk to Park visitors, carriage drivers, and the horses themselves.'

Two previous mayors tried to shut down the industry but failed. Bill de Blasio ran on ending the rides from day one, yet the plan fell apart after union pushback and a media campaign featuring actor Liam Neeson. Eric Adams floated a ban late in his term, but it died without action. This latest effort started in June following the death of Romanch Mahajan. His family asked the city directly to end the rides, sharing tearful stories about how they viewed the activity as safe.

At a rally Thursday, Gaurav Mahajan, Romanch's uncle, stood with lawmakers and activists. He declared, 'the hour of justice has finally arrived.' Speaking for his kin, he said, 'We're turning our shattering loss into an unbreakable shield of kindness for the city. For months, our family hasn't been allowed to just grieve. We've had to fight. We've had to channel our devastating sorrow into a war for change.'

Drivers express sympathy for Mahajan's family but insist they are being punished unfairly over one accident. Christina Hansen, a longtime carriage driver and industry voice, put it plainly: 'It does nothing for alternate employment, for the continuation of our businesses.' She added, 'Who´s going to pay my rent while I´m looking for a job?' The clock is ticking on this issue before the bill becomes law.