President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Andrew Cuomo for the New York City mayoral election, warning that the city would face economic and social disaster under Zohran Mamdani’s leadership. He also threatened to withhold federal funding from the city if Mamdani wins, calling him a ‘Communist’. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump warned that New York City would face ‘total economic and social disaster’ under Mamdani’s leadership. Furthermore, he claimed that federal funds would be limited to the minimum required, unless the city’s leadership was changed. This statement marks Trump’s latest attempt to influence New Yorkers at the polls. He also labeled Mamdani a ‘Communist’, suggesting that his vision for New York City is incompatible with the values of the United States.
In response, Mamdani criticized Trump’s stance, calling the president’s threat to cut federal funds ‘unlawful’ and accusing him of using fear-mongering tactics to influence the election. He also accused Cuomo of being ‘Trump’s puppet’ and claimed that his campaign was supported by the same billionaire donors who backed Trump’s second term. ‘I did not, however, anticipate Andrew Cuomo going from being Donald Trump’s puppet to being so nakedly his parrot,’ he added. The socialist mayoral candidate went on to speak out about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding from the city, and labeled it unlawful. ‘It is not the law,’ Mamdani told reporters. ‘And too often we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it is already legal, just by virtue of who is saying it.’
The tension between Trump and New York City leaders has escalated with the upcoming mayoral race, highlighting the political divisions and the potential impact of federal funding on local governance. Mamdani’s campaign has positioned itself as a challenge to both the current administration and Trump’s influence over New York’s political landscape. As the election approaches, the threat of federal funding cuts and the influence of billionaire donors add complexity to the race, with implications for the city’s economic future and governance.