Governor Greg Abbott is raising eyebrows after posting on his official X account Monday night that he plans to impose a “100% tariff” on anyone moving to Texas from New York City once the polls close.
The post offered no further explanation, leaving many unsure whether the governor was joking or hinting at an actual policy proposal.
The message quickly gained attention online, drawing thousands of reactions and sparking debate about Abbott’s intent.
As of Tuesday morning, the governor’s office has not issued a clarification or follow-up statement. The post comes as Texas voters head to the polls for local and statewide elections.
Unclear is whether Abbott was joking or if he plans to try to implement an entry tax on Texas aimed at New Yorkers fleeing a candidate who Donald Trump calls a communist who would be 'the worst mayor in history.' Mamdani, 34, is a democratic socialist who leads the polls by at least 15 points over his closest rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
As Daily Mail noted, "It's unclear if there's a legal avenue for Texas to treat people like imported goods and place an extra tax on them. While many states currently have an 'exit tax' for leaving, they do not currently have any sort of a 'moving tax' for those arriving."