Kathy Hochul erroneously calls Kamala Harris 'first president of the United States' during DNC speech

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: New York Governor Kathy Hochul mistakenly called Vice President Kamala Harris the "first president of the United States" during her speech at the Democratic National Convention — shortly before painting former President Donald Trump as a "philanderer" and a "felon."

"Are you ready to elect the first president of the United States?" asked the 65-year-old as she began speaking on the opening night of the convention on Monday, August 19.

Kathy Hochul claims Donald Trump wasn't raised with the values of a New Yorker

During her speech, Kathy Hochul insisted that Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, embody the core values of New Yorkers—such as "grit," "determination," and "compassion"—in contrast to Donald Trump, who, despite being born in Queens, does not, as per the New York Post.

"Donald Trump was born a New Yorker but ended up a fraud, a philanderer, and a felon," remarked the Empire State governor, before adding, "He wasn’t raised with the New York values I know. He never had to worry about childcare costs, groceries, or rent. He never had to worry about anything – or anyone – but himself."

"Trust me, America, if you think you’re tired of Donald Trump … talk to a New Yorker. We’ve dealt with him for 78 long years. And New Yorkers are sick of it," further said Hochul.  

She also tried to joke about Trump moving to Florida following his White House tenure. "So it’s no wonder he had to flee to Mar-a-Lago … Sorry about that, Florida," quipped the governor to muted applause.

"Trump hasn’t spent much time in New York lately, except to be convicted of 34 felonies," continued Hochul, pointing to the guilty verdict in his hush money trial. She swiftly added, "And that’s just fine with us. Because New York’s motto is: Excelsior: Ever upward. And Trump takes us ever downward." 

Kathy Hochul faces backlash for referring to Kamala Harris as the 'first president of the United States' 

Netizens were quick to excoriate Kathy Hochul over her remarks from the DNC speech, especially her calling Kamala Harris the "first president of the United States."

One quipped, "Damn, this whole time I thought it was George Washington," and another joked, "Oh wow, they just erasing the last 46 of them I see. Sorry Barack." 

"Do any of these morons know what they are saying?" asked a person, while someone else jokingly inquired, "Is there an open bar behind the stage or something?"

"Saturday night live or is this real?" read a comment.

A disgruntled individual wrote, "Well, since they’ve worked so hard to destroy America and its history, to be unburdened by what has gone before, that they now believe she would be the first president, as they go forward. There is Marxism in all that they say, and communism in everything they propose for the next 4 years of their expected bloodless takeover." 

New York GOP Chair Ed Cox issues statement on Governor Kathy Hochul ahead of her DNC appearance 

Before Kathy Hochul's appearance at the DNC, New York GOP Chair Ed Cox issued a statement accusing the governor of driving the state into decline.

"Under Kathy Hochul and one-party Democrat rule, New York is the highest taxed, least business-friendly state in the nation," wrote the Republican. 

He added, "Crime is on the rise across the state thanks to radical Democrat DAs and an illegal migrant crisis that Kathy Hochul and ‘Border Czar’ Kamala Harris have allowed to spiral utterly out of control." 

"Productive citizens are voting with their feet as New York continues to lead the nation in outmigration. Kathy Hochul’s New York is a disaster and a cautionary tale for what failed governance looks like in this crucial election year," claimed Cox.

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