President Donald Trump publicly endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming New York City mayoral race, urging voters to “must” cast their ballots for Cuomo rather than support Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani or Republican Curtis Sliwa. In a post on his platform, Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist” and warned that his administration would withhold more than minimal federal funding from the city if Mamdani prevailed—citing financial risk and a threat to the city’s future.
Despite Cuomo’s controversial tenure, Trump praised his record and painted him as the only viable challenger capable of halting Mamdani’s agenda. Trump also dismissed Republican candidate Sliwa, asserting that a vote for him would effectively boost Mamdani’s chances by splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.
The intervention marks an unusual moment where the former president actively backed a Democrat in a major municipal race, underscoring his broader strategy to influence the election outcome and combat candidates he views as too progressive for major U.S. cities.