New York City to cut financial ties with Trump business after he incited mob for violence

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that in light of President Trump’s role in last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, New York City is cutting its business ties with the president’s company.

“The President incited a rebellion against the United States government that killed five people and threatened to derail the constitutional transfer of power,” de Blasio, a Democrat, said in a statement.

“The city of New York is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization,” he said on MSNBC, where he made the announcement. “The city of New York will no longer have anything to do with the Trump Organization.”

The announcement is perhaps the most symbolic blow to the outgoing president, who once called the city, where grew up and built his empire and brand, home.

De Blasio said the contracts, which cover four sites – three in Manhattan and one in the Bronx – worth about $17 million annually, include language that allows them to be severed if anyone involved in the Trump Organization is engaged in criminal activity.

“Our legal team has done an assessment, and the contract makes it very clear: If a company and the leadership of that company is engaged in criminal activity, we have the right to sever the contract,” he said. “Inciting an insurrection against the United States government clearly constitutes criminal activity.”

“The president of the United States directed a mob to attack the U.S. Congress,” he said. “It’s a criminal activity. It’s very clear. The lawyers looked at it. It’s clear as a bell.”

The move is the latest regional step to cut ties with the outgoing Republican president and his business dealings. Trump grew up in Queens and built his real estate empire in Manhattan.

The PGA recently canceled the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump’s Bedminister golf course in New Jersey.

In its contract with the Trump Organization to run Ferry Point Golf Course, the city called for a championship-level golf course that would attract major championship events, but the city may contend that has not happened.

Extracting itself from the contract on the golf course could take months, the city said.

The Carousel is currently closed, and termination will be effective 25 days after the city’s notice is delivered. And the deals on the rinks will end after 30 days’ notice, he said.

There was no immediate comment from the Manhattan-based Trump Organization.