Boston Mayor Michelle Wu staged a raucous press conference Tuesday, daring Attorney General Pam Bondi to make good on threats against blue cities over their sanctuary policies.
Wu, a Democrat, accused the Trump administration of being a party “that doesn’t follow the law.”
“At a time when this federal administration is already causing so much fear and harm in our communities, these threats are serious and consequential,” she said. The warning came after the administration signaled it could sue or strip federal funds from cities that refuse to cooperate on immigration enforcement.
Wu noted Bondi demanded all recipients respond by Tuesday and offered her formal response verbally:
“Stop attacking our cities to hide your administration’s failures. Unlike the Trump administration, Boston follows the law… You are wrong on the law, and you are wrong on safety.”
Wu went on to say the political right has it “wrong on cities.”
“The cities that live in your minds are totally foreign to the residents living in our cities. And we are picking up the pieces of your failures to deliver on your promises,” before accusing the Trump administration of increasing costs on Americans.
“Good news on our economy has been as hard to find as the Epstein list,” she said to cheers.
Wu invoked Boston’s Revolutionary roots, taking another swipe at Bondi and mocking Florida as late to the constitutional party.
We are gathered here today to show you who we are in Boston. More than 100 years before your home state was founded, Bostonians were across the street in Faneuil Hall, setting the foundation for our democracy and rule of law. One hundered years before that, Bostonians were founding the first public school and public park in the country.”
“This has always been a city of revolution, of innovation, of standing up for the public good and never bowing down to tyranny. With me today, our fellow public servants and veterans, public safety and faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and labor union members, teachers and business owners, entrepreneurs and artists, youth and seniors.”
“This is our city. This is our country, and I’m so proud and grateful to show the world who our community is here in Boston and what we’re made of.”
Watch Wu’s comments below:
Wu began her Tuesday press conference with a flourish — a live mariachi band — before vowing to defy the Trump administration’s crackdown on Boston’s sanctuary policies.
Michelle Wu Mayor of Boston. Started the event with a Mariachi Band, celebrating how they’re going to subvert ICE arresting illegals in the city.
Boston, you need to get some adults in charge pic.twitter.com/Cx23qQTbOS
— TrashDiscourse (@TrashDiscourse) August 19, 2025
