President Donald Trump has warned that the federal government may withhold funds from New York following Governor Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Hochul’s support for Mamdani “shocking” and “very bad for New York City,” labeling Mamdani with a derogatory term and suggesting that Washington should stop sending federal money to states led by leaders whose politics he disagrees with.
Hochul, in contrast, defended her decision in an opinion piece, citing shared priorities with Mamdani around making New York City safer and more affordable for working families—even though she acknowledged policy differences.
The escalation reflects growing tension over political alliances as Mamdani, a Democratic nominee, gains momentum against rivals including Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With support from Hochul, Mamdani appears to be consolidating more of the Democratic base while facing sharp criticism from Trump and other opponents.
The specific programs or funding streams Trump might target have not been identified, and New York officials have not indicated what countermeasures they may take. Public reaction is now focused on whether this threat will influence the election outcome or prompt legal or constitutional challenges.