Trump lashes out at NYC’s controversial decision to end 150-year tradition by banning horse-drawn carriages
Donald Trump criticised New York City Council’s vote to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, calling the decision sad and saying it would end a historic New York tradition. The ban, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, follows a fatal carriage incident and reflects long-running concerns about animal welfare and the safety of horses and park users.
The Council approved the measure by 40 votes to seven, with rides due to end by June 2028. City Hall must develop a transition programme by next April for more than 150 drivers and others in the industry, including job referrals, career advice and education; compensation may also be considered. The drivers’ union has threatened a legal challenge, while the mayor’s office says it is working on protections for workers and owners.
In short
- New York City voted to end Central Park carriage rides by June 2028.
- Trump condemned the decision as the loss of a historic tradition.
- City Hall must plan support for more than 150 industry workers.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ending the rides can be defended as a way to protect horses from the stresses and risks of working in busy city streets and to reduce the chance of collisions involving horses, passengers and park users. The fatal incident and longstanding welfare concerns support the view that preserving a tradition is not enough to justify continuing an activity that may put animals and people at risk.
The case against
Keeping the rides can be defended as preserving a distinctive part of New York’s history and a livelihood for drivers, owners and others whose work depends on the industry. Supporters may argue that targeted safety and welfare rules could address the risks while allowing the tradition to continue, and that a phase-out imposes serious costs on workers even with transition support.
Explained simply
Horse-drawn carriages have carried visitors around Central Park, Manhattan’s large public park, for generations. The rides are a familiar part of the city’s tourist trade, and drivers and other workers depend on the business for their livelihoods.
The debate centres on how to balance that tradition and those jobs with concerns about the horses’ welfare and the safety of animals, workers and park visitors. A fatal carriage incident added to those concerns, while city officials have also faced questions about how workers and carriage owners would be supported if the trade ends.