Trump Warns of Funding Cuts to New York if Mamdani Wins, Endorses Cuomo in Mayoral Race
As the New York mayoral election nears its final phase, President Trump warns of “economic disaster” if Zohran Mamdani wins, urging voters to back Andrew Cuomo instead.
Washington, Nov 4: US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by declaring that he would restrict federal funding to New York City if Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election. Calling Mamdani “a Communist,” Trump urged New Yorkers to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo, marking a rare show of support for a Democrat.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said:
“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 required, to my beloved first home. With a Communist at the helm, the city has zero chance of success or survival.”
The remarks come as New York prepares for its November 4 mayoral election, with Mamdani currently leading the race. Trump warned that a Mamdani victory would bring “a complete and total economic and social disaster” to the city, citing his “failed ideology” and lack of leadership experience.
Despite his historically strained relationship with Cuomo, Trump said he would prefer “a Democrat with a record of success” over what he termed a “Communist with no experience.” He also urged voters not to split the vote with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, remarking that “a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.”
Trump’s comments follow his interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes, where he reiterated his reluctance to allocate federal funds to a Mamdani led city government. “If you have a Communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you send there,” he said.
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Mamdani responded sarcastically, posting:
“Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this,”
alongside a red banner reading “TRUMP endorses CUOMO.”
Mamdani, 34, born in Uganda and raised in New York, is a State Assembly member and a prominent democratic socialist. According to The Hill, the latest poll shows Mamdani leading with 50% support, followed by Cuomo at 25% and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 21%, with 4% of voters still undecided.
The election, seen as a major test for progressive politics in the US, has drawn national attention as Trump’s remarks inject new tension into an already heated race.
