Texas Governor Greg Abbott caused a stir on social media Tuesday after posting that he would impose a “100% tariff” on any New Yorker moving to Texas after Election Day.
“After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC,” Abbott wrote on X.
The post appeared to be tongue-in-cheek, as states do not have the constitutional authority to impose tariffs.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to questions from NewsNation on whether the post was serious or a joke aimed at political commentary.
Federal Limits on State Tariff Power
Under the U.S. Constitution, the power to impose tariffs rests solely with the federal government, not with individual states.
Abbott’s statement quickly drew attention online, with some users viewing it as political humor and others questioning its intent.
Election Context and National Attention
The timing of Abbott’s post coincided with New York City’s mayoral election, which has drawn national interest due to an unusual endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Trump endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo on Truth Social, writing, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, [Zohran] Mamdani is not!”
According to an Oct. 29 Quinnipiac University poll, Mamdani led the mayoral race with 43%, followed by Cuomo at 33% and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 14%.
The unusual combination of Trump’s endorsement and Abbott’s social media remarks reflects how state and national politics increasingly intertwine online.
