U.S. President Donald Trump has formally endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, warning that federal funding to the city could be reduced if Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner, emerges victorious.
In a post on his Truth Social account late Monday, Trump urged New Yorkers to rally behind Cuomo, writing:
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him — Mamdani is not capable!”
Cuomo, a former New York governor now contesting as an Independent, sought to distance himself from the endorsement, saying, “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.”
Trump, a lifelong New Yorker and Republican, reiterated in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that his administration would only provide the “very minimum” level of federal funding if Mamdani assumes office, describing the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist as a “communist.”
“If you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there,” Trump said.
Mamdani, who represents a Queens district in the New York State Assembly, dismissed Trump’s remarks as “a threat, not the law,” adding that his campaign stands for “justice, equity, and working-class empowerment.” If elected, he would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor and its youngest in over a century.
Recent polls indicate Mamdani leading Cuomo, with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailing behind. Trump declined to endorse Sliwa, saying “a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.”
Cuomo has positioned himself as a seasoned leader capable of managing the city’s complex relationship with Washington. “I fought Donald Trump before,” he said during a debate. “When I’m fighting for New York, I won’t stop.”
Trump’s threat follows a long history of disputes between his administration and Democratic-led cities. New York reportedly received $7.4 billion in federal funds in the current fiscal year.
Responding to the endorsement, Mamdani said Trump’s “MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo” proves that “Cuomo would be the best mayor for Donald Trump — not for New York City.”
