President Donald Trump has escalated his backing for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo by issuing a clear threat to withhold federal funding from New York City if Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor. This marks a more definitive endorsement compared to his earlier comments on ’60 Minutes’, where he was more ambivalent.
Trump’s message aims to influence voters by framing the election as a crucial decision between Cuomo and Mamdani, with the former being portrayed as more effective. The former president’s actions highlight the potential impact of political endorsements on local elections and the interplay between federal and city funding.
Cuomo sought to distance himself from Trump’s backhanded commendation while campaigning on Monday, repeatedly insisting to reporters that Trump did not endorse him. Mamdani’s campaign seized on the “60 Minutes” interview, painting his comments as a full-throated endorsement.
“Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this,” Mamdani wrote in a tongue-in-cheek social media post.
Cuomo has sought to position his campaign to win the support of Trump supporters in New York City. He privately told donors in August he’s counting on Trump to tell voters to support him over Sliwa as part of their shared goal of defeating Mamdani. The New York Times reported in August that Trump and Cuomo discussed the mayoral race in a phone call.
It’s not immediately clear the extent to which Trump could hamstring New York City’s funding if he does withhold federal dollars. But over