Can Trump end the LIRR strike? Why Hochul is blaming the president

The Long Island Railroad strike is on, and commuters are feeling the pain.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has pointed fingers at President Donald Trump for the strike, while he denied all wrongdoing.

But does Trump actually have the power to stop the strike, and why is the governor placing blame on the president?

Hochul points to Trump

Before LIRR service closed on Saturday, Hochul tweeted that Trump "needlessly encouraged and accelerated" the strike.

But Trump denied the claim, writing that he had "NOTHING TO DO WITH IT," and "never even heard about it until this morning," in a Truth Social post after the strike went into effect.

"She just blurted out, 'it's President Trump's fault.' No, Kathy, it's your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen," he said, then writing that he could end it.

"If you can't solve it, let me know, and I'll show you how to properly get things done," Trump wrote. "Kathy, call me if you can't do it, I will get it done - I know all the players, great people!!!"

So, what is the the governor's gripe?

In a news conference, Hochul said that the "strike would not have been possible if the Trump Administration had not taken the highly unusual step last fall of releasing labor unions from mediation."

James Louis, the national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said that was untrue.

"The National Mediation Board ... when they gave us the release from mediation, the board members were two Biden-appointed members that gave us the approval to be released," Louis told USA TODAY.

"It's more of the 'let's blame politics on this.' The only person I can point the finger on is the MTA."

Louis said that "Kathy and her department can stop the rhetoric and recognize these two independent boards."

"For Washington and the president: Congress does have the power to step in and settle this case," he said.

Hochul's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by USA TODAY on why Trump was being blamed for the strike.

LIRR strike

Around 3,500 workers went on strike Saturday, May 16, after contract talks between multiple rail unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority fell through.

The unions are calling for a 5% raise for the fourth year of their contracts, which begins in June 2026, after coming to an agreement on its first three years. The MTA has offered 3%, and has said it could go up to 4.5% if certain concessions were made.

After workers went on strike this weekend, all LIRR service was shut down, affecting around 300,000 commuters. Talks are ongoing this week between both sides as they attempt to reach a deal.