Capital District Times

Paul Tonko, a U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 20th district, expressed criticism over recent actions by former President Donald Trump and other key figures through a series of tweets. Tonko, who has been serving since replacing Michael McNulty in 2009, actively voiced concerns about the economic implications of these decisions.

On April 2, 2025, Congressman Tonko tweeted about President Trump imposing what he described as one of the largest price hikes in American history. "President Trump just imposed one of the largest price hikes in American history — and it’s your family, not Trump’s billionaire friends, who will pay the price. While Trump tries to tank the economy, everything you buy is about to get more expensive". Tonko pointed out that these economic actions predominantly affect average families.

On April 4, 2025, Tonko addressed another issue involving Donald Trump and Elon Musk, highlighting their impact on financial difficulties faced by working families. In his tweet, he stated, "Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s devastating DOGE cuts are making it harder for working families to put food on the table. Today, I sat down with @FoodBankNENY and other local anti-hunger leaders to hear firsthand how these cruel policies are worsening hunger in our Capital Region." Tonko discussed a meeting with anti-hunger leaders in his region to better understand the effects of these policies.

Tonko's concerns culminated in another tweet on the same day, emphasizing the significance of federal program funding. He wrote, "All the organizations I met with today rely on vital federal programs to accomplish their missions and feed those in need. But after over $1 billion in cuts, their funding is drying up – leaving Capital Region families at risk. We must fight to restore these lifelines." Tonko underscored how budget cuts are adversely affecting regional families and urged restoration of financial support to these programs.