Staten Island city Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat, faced backlash from fellow Democrats after praising a pro-Donald Trump-Make America Great Again statement made by Republican Vincent Ignizio on social media. Hanks, who represents Staten Island’s blue-leaning North Shore, responded positively to Ignizio’s statement about bringing the country together post-election. This led to speculation that Hanks may face a party primary challenge from an anti-Trump Democrat in the future. Some have accused her of being a closet Republican who was emboldened by Trump’s victory.
Hanks defended her comment, stating that it was more about Trump having the opportunity to unite the country than a declaration of support for the MAGA movement. She emphasized that she voted for Democrat Kamala Harris, not Trump, in the presidential election. Hanks described herself as a moderate and claimed that her response was taken out of context by those seeking to undermine her. She called for Democrats to focus on understanding why they lost the presidential election rather than targeting her for a social media comment.
Despite the controversy, Hanks stood by her friendship with Ignizio, stating that they have known each other for nearly 20 years and agreeing with the point he made on social media. Ignizio also defended Hanks, highlighting their long-standing friendship and calling for unity post-election. He emphasized the need for all parties to come together to govern effectively. Ignizio also mentioned that he had made similar posts in the past when Democrats were elected to office, showing a commitment to working across party lines.
Hanks faced consequences within the City Council when she was replaced as chairperson of the Public Safety Committee by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. This was reportedly due to disagreements over a law that required NYPD officers to file reports on more interactions with the public. Despite this, Hanks emphasized the importance of bipartisanship in governing. She highlighted Staten Island as a place where representatives from different parties collaborate effectively to address community needs. Hanks encouraged politicians to focus on finding common ground rather than getting caught up in political divisions.
