Trump, Cuomo, de Blasio All Take the Subway in New York at the Exact Same Moment

The "Unity of the Transit Trinity" has been achieved.

2 minute read

April 1, 2018, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


April Fool's

April Fool's Day / Planetizen

A commitment to public transit by leaders at the local, state, and federal level in New York was on display this week in New York CityThree of the most powerful politicians who call New York City home—President Donald Trump, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Governor Andrew Cuomo—were all using public transit service at the exact same time on Friday, according to reports. Observers are referring to the event as the "Unity of the Transit Trinity."

President Trump entered the MTA subway at 57th Street at exactly 6:37 am, boarding an F Train to Penn Station, where he connected with an Amtrak Acela train to Washington, D.C. Eye witnesses report that President Trump spent the riding chatting with other riders about taking the transit from D.C. to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Governor Cuomo spent several hours, from 5:02 am until 7:15 am, on the same morning riding the Second Avenue Subway back and forth with staffers while brainstorming ideas for raising revenues and reducing construction costs for transit investment projects.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was seen entering the Fulton Street Subway Station with a gym bag, presumably bound for his gym in Park Slope, which he accesses with a quick 30-minute trip on the A/C and G lines.

Reporters have been eagerly awaiting confirmation of the "Unity of the Transit Trinity" since unverified rumors arose last month of Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio bumping into each  other on the A Train and then proceeding to reenact the "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" and volleyball scenes from Top Gun. President Trump is famous for busking on MTA subway trains with a routine that included acrobatic displays on handrails and referring to himself "Straphanger Donny" throughout the 1980s.

This alignment of powerful politicians simultaneously riding the New York public transit system is likely to become a typical event in New York City, given the ardent support of critical capital investment in public transit shown by all three, regardless of the political consequences or any rivalry they feel with contemporary or previous politicians.

Sunday, April 1, 2018 in Planetizen April 1st Edition

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

6 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine