Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Alleged Promise of a 100 % Tariff on NYC Movers: The Facts, the Fear, and the Fallout
A post circulating online claims that Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, has pledged to impose a “100 % tariff” on anyone relocating to Texas from New York City if Zohran Mamdani wins the NYC mayoral race — and urges conservatives to instead move to New Jersey or Pennsylvania to “make those states red.” However dramatic and politically charged as this message may appear, there is no credible evidence that Governor Abbott has made any such promise or legal proposal. We break down what is known, what is unsubstantiated, and why this claim is drawing attention.
First, the claim itself: the social-media post states, “JUST IN: Texas Governor Greg Abbott promises to impose a ‘100% TARIFF on anyone moving to Texas from NYC’ after the polls close tomorrow, for if and when communist Zohran Mamdani wins. New Yorkers need to SAVE their city! And if Zohran wins, move to New Jersey and Pennsylvania and make those states red. Texas and Florida are FINE right now!” While stirring, this is unverified and appears to be a politically motivated message rather than an official announcement.
Turning to what is documented: Governor Abbott has been very active in national immigration and state-sovereignty politics. For example, he launched the Operation Lone Star border initiative in Texas aimed at stemming undocumented immigration. He has also publicly weighed in on trade and tariff matters. But when it comes to the exact allegation of a “100% tariff” on people moving from NYC to Texas, there is no record of such a policy proposal.
In fact, in 2019 Reuters reported that Abbott reaffirmed his opposition to tariffs because of the harm they could inflict on the Texas economy.This runs directly contrary to the idea of a draconian “100% moving tax.” More recent reporting shows Abbott reacting to Canadian retaliation tariffs against U.S. actions and warning of the strength of the Texas economy in that trade context—but again, no mention of a domestic relocation tariff. Meanwhile, in New York, Zohran Mamdani’s campaign and profile are real and current. He has addressed issues such as affordability and Islamophobia in the city’s mayoral race. The mention of Mamdani in the original social-media post appears to exploit fear and political polarization rather than relay a verifiable policy action.
So where does that leave things? We can draw a few key conclusions.
One, the claim that Texas will impose a “100% tariff” on New Yorkers relocating if Mamdani wins appears unfounded. There are no credible statements from Governor Abbott, no legislative proposal, and no legal mechanism put forward for such a tax.
Two, while Governor Abbott is aggressive on border policy and state-level sovereignty, his documented positions are inconsistent with the notion of using relocation tariffs as a tool of political retaliation. The 2019 Reuters piece clearly shows he opposed tariffs on principle because of their economic impact.Three, the message bears the hallmarks of political hype: it mixes a dramatic “tariff” threat with partisan calls (“make those states red”) and emotional urgency (“New Yorkers need to SAVE their city!”). It uses Mamdani’s candidacy as a trigger and seems designed to evoke conservative movement and relocation narratives rather than function as policy reporting.
Four, for readers and voters it matters: spreading inaccurate claims can distort public discourse, sow fear, and distract from actual policy debates. While it is legitimate and important to scrutinize migration flows, tax policy, and the economic consequences of political-driven relocation, accuracy remains essential.
From a pro-Trump perspective this narrative may align with a broader framing of cities, states, and political actors. But even for ideological allies, amplifying unverified statements can undermine credibility. If a message sounds sensational and there is no official source confirming it, caution is warranted.
In the end, if Governor Abbott wanted to impose a 100 % tariff on relocating New Yorkers contingent on a Mayoral victory in NYC, he would need not only to propose such a statute but also navigate constitutional and interstate commerce constraints. No such proposal exists in the mainstream record. The claim thus remains speculative and unsupported.
For New Yorkers, conservatives, and anyone watching the national red/blue state dynamics, understanding what is happening matters more than reacting to what may be claimed. Governor Abbott’s record shows aggressive posture on immigration and state rights, not on punitive relocation tariffs. Mamdani’s campaign is active, but he does not trigger policies beyond NYC city limits. As voters and citizens, verifying claims through credible sources is paramount.
If this “100% tariff” claim resurfaces or evolves into any official proposal—state legislation, executive order, formal announcement—then it will become a story worth dissecting in detail, including legal viability, economic impact, and political ramifications. Today, however, it remains a political narrative, not a documented policy. For now, the best approach is to mark it as unverified and focus attention on policies that are real and recorded.
