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Mamdani responds after Trump backs Cuomo, threatens to cut funds for New York City
Cuomo, a longtime stalwart in the Democratic Party, is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
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Reuters - Mon, 03, Nov 2025
- 02:34 EST
- 457
Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, looks on as he holds a campaign rally on the eve of election day, in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 3, 2025. / REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
New York Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has responded to President Donald Trump after the president endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City on Nov. 3 and threatened to withhold federal funds if Mamdani wins the Nov. 4 mayoral election.
Trump, a Republican who has offered frequent commentary on the New York mayoral election, injected himself further into the race by crossing party lines to support Cuomo over Mamdani and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, who trails badly in public opinion polls in the heavily Democratic city.
Cuomo, a longtime stalwart in the Democratic Party, is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
The Nov. 4 New York City election has been closely watched nationally as one that could help shape the image of the Democratic Party as it seeks its identity in opposition to Trump. Mamdani, 34, a self-described democratic socialist who is leading Cuomo in the polls, has energized younger and more progressive voters, but he has also alarmed more moderate Democrats who fear a shift too far to the left may backfire.
Republicans have attacked Mamdani's candidacy throughout the campaign, with Trump casting him as a communist.
"Whether you personally 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.
Trump said a vote for Sliwa would only help Mamdani.
"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 as required, to my beloved first home," said Trump, a native New Yorker.
The U.S. federal government is providing $7.4 billion to New York City in fiscal year 2026, or about 6.4 percent of the city's total spending, according to a report from the New York State Comptroller.
Trump has threatened federal funding cuts throughout his second term in office over climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
Mamdani responds
Responding to Trump’s remarks on Nov. 3, Mamdani said he would “address that threat for what it is: it is a threat. It is not the law.”
The Trump administration has previously sought to cut federal grants and funding for projects in Democratic-led areas. New York City received $7.4 billion in federal funding this fiscal year.
Mamdani added that “the MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him.”
“Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration,” he said.
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 U.S. Justice Department investigation later concluded Cuomo subjected at least 13 female state employees to a "sexually hostile work environment."
Mamdani's policies include hiking taxes on New York City's wealthiest, raising the corporation tax rate, freezing stabilized apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidized 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.
Remember to vote tomorrow in New York!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 3, 2025
Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is.
VOTE CUOMO!
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