Trump Endorses Cuomo, Warns NYC of Federal Fund Cuts if Mamdani Wins

US President Donald Trump endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City on Monday and warned that federal funding to the city could be withheld if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election on Tuesday.

Trump, a Republican known for frequently commenting on the NYC mayoral race, further inserted himself into the contest by backing Cuomo, an independent candidate, over Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa, who is trailing in polls in the heavily Democratic city.

Cuomo, a longtime Democratic Party stalwart, is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.

Tuesday’s NYC election is being closely watched nationwide, as it is seen as a test of the Democratic Party’s direction and its opposition to Trump.

Mamdani, 34, a self-described democratic socialist, has energized younger and progressive voters and is currently leading in polls. However, his candidacy has raised concerns among moderate Democrats, who fear a potential shift too far left could backfire.

Republicans have repeatedly criticized Mamdani’s campaign, with Trump labeling him a “communist.”

“Whether you like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job.

He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that a vote for Sliwa would only help Mamdani.

Trump further warned, “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.”

According to the New York State Comptroller, the federal government is providing $7.4 billion to NYC in fiscal year 2026, roughly 6.4% of the city’s total budget.

During his second term, Trump has previously threatened federal funding cuts over issues including climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Mamdani, a Uganda-born state assembly member, shocked political observers on June 24 with a convincing victory in the primary.

Mamdani has used his campaign to rally New Yorkers against establishment candidates like Cuomo, who was elected governor of New York three times but resigned in 2021 following a report from the New York Attorney General that concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women, including state employees.

A US Justice Department investigation later concluded Cuomo subjected at least 13 female state employees to a “sexually hostile work environment.”

“The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him,” Mamdani said at a campaign event following Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo.

“They (Trump and Cuomo) share the same donors, they share the same small vision, they share the same sense of impunity,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani’s policies include hiking taxes on New York City’s wealthiest, raising the corporation tax rate, freezing stabilised apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidised housing.

His rise presents both risks and rewards for the national Democratic Party, which acknowledges the need to appeal to young voters but is wary of Republican attacks over Mamdani’s criticism of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and his democratic socialism, which has concerned New York’s finance community.