Kathy Hochul slammed for ‘forcing kids to wear masks’ – while she goes WITHOUT at Puerto Rico school

Newly re-elected New York Governor Kathy Hochul was called out for not wearing a facemask as she celebrated her midterms win with a class full of Puerto Ricans students – who were forced to wear them. 

Hochul, 64, traveled to Puerto Rico on Friday to hand out backpacks and school supplies to students as the state of New York vowed to help the country after it was devastated by Hurricane Fiona in September. 

While visiting a school in San Juan with American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, Hochul was filmed happily dancing alongside a classroom of students, who were all wearing masks. 

Masking mandates are largely lifted throughout the country, although schools can still require children to wear them – but visiting adults like Hochul ironically do not have to. 

Hochul was criticized earlier this year for hanging onto mask mandates, especially in schools, and for implementing a COVID-19 passport, where restaurants and indoor activities had to check vaccination status. 

In addition, New York City only recently lifted mask mandates for public transportation in September. 

Several conservatives were quick to criticize the Democratic governor just days after she won re-election over Republican candidate, Lee Zeldin, over the now-viral video. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured) was filmed happily dancing alongside a classroom of students, who were all wearing masks while she went without one, which quickly attracted criticism from conservatives 

Hochul, 64, traveled to Puerto Rico on Friday to hand out backpacks and school supplies to students as the state of New York vowed to help the country after it was devastated by Hurricane Fiona in September

See also  Mariah Carey hits the high note once more in a new video confirming her collaboration with Peleton

Masking mandates are largely lifted throughout the country, although schools can still require children to wear them

The Republican National Convention (RNC) Research wrote on Twitter: ‘Here is Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul celebrating her re-election in the only way she knows how — forcing young children to wear masks.’ 

As pandemic restrictions eased, many conservative states were quick to drop mask mandates and bashed democratic states, such as New York, who only recently dropped restrictions on public transportation. 

Journalist Ian Miles Cheong tweeted: ‘Kathy Hochul visits a school in San Juan. She doesn’t wear a mask but all the kids have to. Know your betters, peasants.’

Social Worker Justin Spiro questioned: ‘Why is Governor Hochul and nearly every adult mask-less while nearly every child is masked? Is that the rule at this school in Puerto Rico?’ 

Tom Elliott, owner of Grabien.com, said: ‘Forcing kids to wear masks while you exploit them for your own political career. What shameful cruelty.’  

Jason Howerton, a conservative commentator, also slammed Hochul for ‘breathing freely’ while the children danced around with masks. 

‘They’ve learned nothing. And why would they have? New York, you just elected this woman after witnessing the utter destruction of your state. You’ll get what you voted for,’ he tweeted. 

Several conservatives were quick to criticize the Democratic governor, saying she ‘forcing’ the children to wear masks while she ‘breathed freely’ 

The Young Americans for Liberty slammed Hochul as a ‘tyrant [who] has been emboldened’ and warned New Yorkers that they ‘are going to get what they voted for.’

‘Masks on the children. No mask for @GovKathyHochul. She’s special, you see,’ the organization said on Twitter. 

Charles Downs, a conservative activist, claimed Hochul was the ‘worst’ and claimed Hochul will turn New York City into Seattle. 

‘Remember in Portland and Seattle: crime, ANTIFA, and all the crazy woke ideology make it into the suburbs. Democrats destroy states!’ he tweeted. 

Shortly after the midterms, New York announced it would send additional aid to Puerto Rico to help it re-stabilized after the hurricane. 

Hochul also announced that the state would be sending 19,000 pounds of food from New York farms to the island. 

‘The devastation Fiona left behind is no match for the strength and resilience of our friends and family in Puerto Rico,’ Hochul said on Friday. 

While also in Puerto Rico, Hochul met with Mayor Miguel Romero to ‘discuss how we can continue to work together to grow the vital relationship between San Juan and New York’ 

‘I thank our New York farmers who have consistently answered the call to support our neighbors in need, and I look forward to a more sustainable pipeline of fresh produce going to and from the Island for years to come.’

Feeding New York State previously sent 37,000 pounds of food in September after the hurricane hit. 

Additionally, a new trade deal between the country and New York was established, where Puerto Ricans will purchase apples, onions and cabbage grown in the Empire State, while New York will buy mango, papaya and seedless watermelon, according to ABC 7. 

While in Puerto Rico, Hochul also met with Mayor Miguel Romero to ‘discuss how we can continue to work together to grow the vital relationship between San Juan and New York.’ 

She also announced that New York would open a Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration Office in the Bronx, so ‘Puerto Rican New Yorkers [don’t] have to travel to get records needed for everyday life.’ 

November has also been named Puerto Rican Heritage Month in the state.