US President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, warning that if Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s controversial nominee, wins Tuesday’s election, he would cut federal funds to the city.
Mamdani, a radical member of the Democratic Socialists, secured the Democratic nomination in June, defeating Cuomo and sitting Mayor Eric Adams. The race also includes Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that the city had “zero chance of success or survival” under Mamdani’s leadership. “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad,” he said.
Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo marks a rare cross-party move, as he described the former Democrat governor as a “realist alternative” to Mamdani. He said a vote for Sliwa, the founder of a vigilante transit group, would effectively be a “vote for Mamdani.”
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not,” Trump said.
Mamdani has repeatedly rejected being called a “communist,” but critics note his alignment with left-wing ideologies. In a discussion with the Democratic Socialists of America, he reportedly stated, “Our end goal, seizing the means of production” a central principle of Marxist theory.
“His principles have been tested for over a thousand years and never once have they been successful,” Trump said, warning that a Mamdani victory would lead to a “complete and total economic and social disaster” for New York City.
Endorsing Cuomo further, Trump said, “I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE.”
Also Read : Obama declines to back Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor
Political analysts view Trump’s backing of Cuomo as a double-edged sword, potentially alienating moderate Democrats while drawing some Republican support.
Polls show the race tightening, with Mamdani leading at 46.1 per cent, Cuomo at 31.8 per cent, and Sliwa trailing at 16.3 per cent, according to RealClearPolitics.
Mamdani’s campaign has faced criticism for his participation in pro-Khalistan rallies and his anti-Israel remarks, which some described as bordering on anti-Semitic.
The 34-year-old former state assemblyman, who once worked with the South Asian advocacy group Chhaya and briefly pursued a career as a rapper, has gained momentum among younger progressives.
Cuomo echoed Trump’s remarks, saying, “The president is right. A vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.”
Major Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have avoided endorsing Mamdani. Obama, who campaigned for New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill over the weekend, notably skipped an appearance in New York City.
Mamdani’s election promises include free public buses, rent freezes, and higher taxes on the wealthy. He has also vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and boycott Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi if they visit New York City.
Mamdani, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan-born scholar Mahmood Mamdani, identifies as a South Asian Muslim. His rise in city politics has been fuelled by anti-establishment sentiment and his outspoken criticism of global capitalism.
The city’s voters are sharply divided ahead of Tuesday’s election, which is being closely watched across the United States as a potential indicator of how far left the Democratic Party’s base is willing to go.
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