President Donald Trump disparaged his longtime hometown of New York City Friday, saying the city is getting 'dirty' and unsafe – and compared New York Governor to a character from The Godfather after moving his main residence to lower-tax Florida.
The president alternately pointed to conditions in the New York, its high taxes, its Democratic political leadership, and investigations of his finances as reasons for his decision to make Mar-a-Lago his legal residence.
'I love New York, but New York can never be great again under the current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo (the brother of Fredo), or Mayor Bill DeBlasio,' Trump wrote.
'Cuomo has weaponized the prosecutors to do his dirty work (and to keep him out of jams), a reason some don’t want to be ... in New York, and another reason they are leaving.'
'NYC is getting dirty & unsafe again, as ... our great police are being disrespected,' Trump wrote, as he marshaled numerous arguments for his reason to move to lower-tax Florida
Cuomo signed the bill allowing the state legislature to release his New York State tax returns to congress. In addition, federal prosecutors in New York are seeking to obtain his tax return information as part of an investigation into alleged campaign finance violations.
Trump has previously mocked CNN host Chris Cuomo as 'Fredo,' who is depicted in the Godfather trilogy as the brother who lacks the sense or fortitude to do almost anything right (although he does succeed in saving protagonist Don Corleone's life when he gets hospitalized).
Their father is former Gov. Mario Cuomo, meaning in Trump's analogy, the current governor would either be hot-headed Sonny Corleone or cunning successor Michael Corleone.
Trump, who stands to save millions with the legal maneuver, also brought up New York State energy policy, amid resistance to fracking – along with police being 'disrespected' and other reasons for his move.
President Trump tweeted about his decision to change his legal residence from New York to Florida, which has no state income tax
Trump called New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo 'brother of Fredo'
The classic film is set in New York, where cunning Michael Corleone succeeds his father to become godfather following the assassination of his brother Sonny. Fredo bumbles his way through many of his assignments
The Sonny Corleone character assumes control of the family after his father is injured in the first Godfather film
'Taxes and energy costs are way too high, Upstate is being allowed to die as other nearby states frack & drill for Gold (oil) while reducing taxes & creating jobs by the thousands,' Trump wrote.
'NYC is getting dirty & unsafe again, as ... our great police are being disrespected, even with water dumped on them, because a Mayor and Governor just don’t “have their backs.” New York’s Finest must be cherished, respected and loved. Too many prople [people] are leaving our special New York. Great leaders would work....' he wrote.
Trump had yet to finish that thought more than an hour after he tweeted it.
Trump also addressed his tax move outside the White House, saying he pays 'millions and millions' in taxes.
'They haven’t treated me properly. I pay millions of taxes. Millions and millions of dollars in New York. They’ve never treated me, you know ...' he said.
'Since I became president they just haven’t treated I think the office with the kind of respect,' he said.
'I don’t mind paying the taxes,' Trump said. He also said 'Many bad things are happening in New York,' without further explanation.
Trump did not provide a specific dollar figure that he and First Lady Melania Trump might ave by moving to Florida, which has no state income tax, and leaving New York City, which has high local taxes.
Trump and his wife have filed paperwork to change their official residence from New York City to Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump quietly filed documents in September with the Palm Beach County Circuit Court changing his primary residence from Trump Tower to Mar-a-Lago, his resort in Palm Beach.
The president acknowledged the change in a series of tweets on Thursday, saying: '1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I have come to love and will stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will be making Palm Beach, Florida, our Permanent Residence.'
'I cherish New York, and the people of New York, and always will, but unfortunately, despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year, I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state,' he continued.
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