New
York, NY — On the eve of the 2025 New York City mayoral election, Donald Trump
publicly urged voters to support Andrew Cuomo over Democratic frontrunner
Zohran Mamdani, warning of federal-funding cuts if the progressive candidate
prevails.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged New York City voters to back former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s upcoming mayoral election, while simultaneously threatening to withhold federal funding if Zohran Mamdani wins. His message, delivered on social media on November 3, 2025, represents a dramatic intervention in a local race that has assumed national significance.
What
is happening
On
the eve of the election, Trump posted on his platform that voters in New York
must choose Andrew Cuomo, describing Cuomo as having “a Record of Success” and
Mamdani as “not.”
Trump
also declared that if Mamdani wins, the city may receive “the very minimum as
required” in federal funding—posing a direct threat to one of the nation’s
largest municipal budgets.
Cuomo,
who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary in June,
publicly sought to distance himself from Trump’s endorsement, insisting: “He’s
not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.”
Mamdani
responded sharply, arguing Trump’s intervention reveals that the former
governor is Trump’s preferred candidate for reasons other than what might be
best for New Yorkers.
New
York City receives tens of billions of dollars annually in federal funding.
Trump’s threat to withhold funds elevates the mayoral race from a municipal
contest to a potential battleground over Washington-city relations.
Intra-party
and cross-party dynamics
Cuomo’s
candidacy as an independent complicates the usual Democratic versus Republican
alignment.
Trump’s
decision to back Cuomo, a Democrat-turned-independent, while opposing Mamdani,
reflects strategic political calculations about the future of both New York
City and national party dynamics.
For
Cuomo, associating with Trump could alienate core Democratic voters; yet for
Trump, the move signals his active engagement in races beyond his party’s
immediate base.
Implications
for the Democratic Party
Mamdani
is a self-described democratic socialist whose platform emphasizes
affordability, universal childcare, and rent control. Trump labeling him a
“communist” amplifies internal divisions within the Democratic coalition, and
may influence how progressive candidates are viewed nationally.
The
mayoral contest
Zohran
Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the June Democratic primary and leads in polls for
the general election.
Andrew
Cuomo served as New York Governor until 2021, when he resigned amid
sexual-harassment allegations, which he denies.
Republican
candidate Curtis Sliwa has remained in the race but is significantly trailing
in polling. Trump explicitly discouraged votes for Sliwa, saying a vote for him
is effectively a vote for Mamdani.
Analysis:
Will Trump’s backing help or hurt Cuomo?
Potential
advantages for Cuomo:
Trump
may mobilize voters in segments of NYC historically opposed to Mamdani —
including some conservative, working-class or older voters who supported Trump
in 2024.
The
threat of funding cuts might alarm voters concerned about the viability of
municipal services and economic stability.
Risks
for Cuomo:
New
York City remains a deep-blue jurisdiction; ties to Trump could alienate
moderate and progressive Democrats who view Trump unfavorably.
Mamdani
and his campaign are seizing on the Trump endorsement to portray Cuomo as
beholden to national conservative interests rather than to city residents.
What’s
at stake for New Yorkers
For
the voters of New York City, the race is not simply about who becomes mayor —
it is about the city’s relationship to Washington, the ideological direction of
city policy (especially regarding affordability, public services and policing),
and how national political fault-lines play out on the local stage. The
dramatic involvement of a former president underscores the high stakes.
This
intervention by Donald Trump in the New York City mayoral race underscores how
even municipal elections are increasingly battlegrounds for national politics.
The alliances, endorsements and threats playing out illustrate that for both
parties, the control of cities carries more than symbolic weight — it shapes
policy, budgets, and political narratives for the next cycle.
By:
María Pérez | Editor-in-Chief
Publication
date: 04/11/2025
Transparency
note: This article was written using verified sources and reviewed according to
CRN Times editorial standards.