Trump Endorses Cuomo for New York City Mayor — and Warns He’ll Cut Funding if Mamdani Wins
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Trump Endorses Cuomo for New York City Mayor — and Warns He’ll Cut Funding if Mamdani Wins
In a surprising twist in New York City’s heated mayoral race, U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo — a longtime political rival — while threatening to slash federal funding if left-wing frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is elected.
The endorsement came Monday evening on Trump’s Truth Social account, where he urged voters to back Cuomo, who is running as an Independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump wrote. “You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
A Reluctant Alliance Between Former Enemies
The endorsement caught many by surprise. Cuomo, a former Democratic governor and one of Trump’s fiercest critics during the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly distanced himself from the backing.
“He’s not endorsing me,” Cuomo said in response. “He’s opposing Mamdani.”
Despite their history of mutual disdain, Trump’s post made clear that his priority is to prevent Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive state assemblyman, from taking City Hall.
Trump even took aim at the Republican candidate, radio host Curtis Sliwa, suggesting that voting for Sliwa would effectively help Mamdani win.
“A vote for Curtis Sliwa… is a vote for Mamdani,” Trump declared.
Trump’s Warning: “No Money for New York Under Mamdani”
In his Truth Social post and a Sunday interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump made it clear that a Mamdani victory could cost New York billions in federal aid.
“It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds, other than the very minimum required, if Mamdani is elected,” Trump said.
He went even further in his TV appearance, calling Mamdani a “communist” — a claim that drew sharp criticism and fact-checking afterward.
“It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York,” Trump said. “Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
Mamdani Pushes Back: “This Is a Threat, Not the Law”
Zohran Mamdani didn’t waste time responding. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Democratic nominee said Trump’s comments amounted to political blackmail.
“I will address that threat for what it is: it is a threat. It is not the law,” Mamdani said.
The New York City budget relies heavily on federal funding — roughly $7.4 billion this fiscal year. Cutting off even a portion of that money could impact housing, infrastructure, and social programs across the city.
Mamdani also used Trump’s remarks to reinforce his campaign message, accusing both Trump and Cuomo of representing a political establishment that serves itself.
“The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that Cuomo would be the best mayor for him — not the best mayor for New York City,” Mamdani said.
Cuomo Walks a Tightrope Between Trump and Progressives
Cuomo’s campaign faces a delicate balancing act. Once one of the most powerful Democrats in the country, Cuomo was forced to resign as governor in 2021 after multiple sexual harassment allegations. Now running as an Independent, he’s attempting a political comeback — but from an uneasy middle ground.
During debates, Cuomo has portrayed himself as the only candidate experienced enough to handle the Trump administration’s threats. “I fought Donald Trump,” he said during one debate. “When I’m fighting for New York, I’m not going to stop.”
He’s repeatedly reminded voters that he stood up to the Trump White House during the pandemic, though he still faces criticism over the underreporting of nursing home deaths during that time.
For some voters, Trump’s endorsement may actually hurt Cuomo’s credibility. For others, it may position him as the pragmatic choice in a race dominated by ideological extremes.
Who Is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani, 34, is a state assemblyman representing Astoria, Queens, and a rising star in New York’s progressive movement. The son of Indian-Ugandan immigrants, Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist and has campaigned on issues like affordable housing, police reform, and climate justice.
He often jokes that he’s “a Scandinavian-style politician, only browner,” and rejects labels like “communist” that have been thrown at him by critics.
If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor — and its youngest in over a century. His campaign has energized young voters and activists, but it’s also drawn fierce opposition from conservatives and moderates who see him as too radical.
Trump’s History with New York and Cuomo
Trump, who grew up in Queens and still owns property in the city, has always maintained a complicated relationship with his hometown. He often criticizes New York’s Democratic leaders, blaming them for rising crime and economic decline.
In the 60 Minutes interview, Trump said electing Mamdani would be a “disaster,” even suggesting it would make former mayor Bill de Blasio “look great” by comparison.
“I got to see de Blasio — how bad a mayor he was,” Trump said. “This man will do a worse job than de Blasio by far.”
Despite being a Republican, Trump’s decision not to endorse his party’s nominee, Curtis Sliwa, signals how personal his feelings about New York politics remain. Instead, he framed his support for Cuomo as a reluctant but necessary move to “save” the city.
“I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other,” Trump told CBS. “But if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time.”
A Divided Race with High Stakes
Polls show Mamdani leading Cuomo, with Sliwa trailing behind. The three-way race has become one of the most unpredictable in decades, combining old rivalries, generational divides, and a national political spotlight.
For many New Yorkers, the contest is not just about who will run City Hall — it’s also about how much influence Donald Trump will continue to wield over his hometown.
Mamdani has framed the race as a referendum on Trump’s influence, saying, “The answer to a Donald Trump presidency is not to create its mirror image here in City Hall. It is to create an alternative — one that believes in the dignity of everyone who calls this city home.”
Cuomo, meanwhile, is positioning himself as the candidate who can keep New York’s relationship with Washington from collapsing, arguing that he has the political experience to push back against the White House if necessary.
What’s Next for New York City?
With just days left before the election, the mayoral race has turned into a national story — one that blends ideology, personality, and political survival. Trump’s involvement has only raised the stakes, transforming what was already a contentious race into a referendum on America’s political divide.
Whether Trump’s endorsement helps or hurts Cuomo remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the president’s warning about cutting federal funds has injected a new level of tension into the race — and reminded voters that, even after decades in politics, Donald Trump still knows how to dominate the conversation in his hometown.
