Trump Endorses Cuomo, Blasts ‘Communist Mamdani,’ and Threatens to Cut Federal Funding if NYC Chooses ‘Wrong Leader’
In a fiery Truth Social post on Monday, President Donald Trump threw his full support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo while delivering a stern warning to voters ahead of Tuesday’s New York City mayoral election. Trump labeled Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani a “Communist,” vowing to withhold nearly all federal funding from the city if Mamdani wins. “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,” Trump wrote. Citing fears of “total economic and social disaster,” he urged New Yorkers to “vote for Cuomo,” calling him “capable” and “the only viable choice to save the city.”
The president’s comments have intensified an already heated race marked by stark ideological divides. Mamdani, who has championed policies around housing justice and wealth redistribution, fired back during a campaign stop in the Bronx, accusing Trump of “trying to buy New York City’s democracy through fear.” He also criticized Elon Musk’s public endorsement of Cuomo, saying, “When billionaires and the President unite at the last minute, it’s not for the people — it’s for their profits.” Mamdani dismissed Trump’s funding threats as “unlawful and unconstitutional,” arguing that “federal aid cannot be weaponized against voters exercising their democratic rights.”
Cuomo, meanwhile, has largely embraced Trump’s unexpected backing, calling it “proof that leadership transcends party lines” while pledging to “restore stability and safety to the city.” Political analysts say Trump’s intervention could swing undecided moderates but alienate progressive voters already wary of establishment influence. With polls showing the race tightening, the former president’s remarks have effectively transformed the local contest into a national referendum on ideology, loyalty, and the future of America’s largest city.
