Trump backs Cuomo for mayor, threatens to cut funds for New York City if Mamdani wins
The US president, a former New York City resident of note, has loomed over the mayoral race for months
US President Donald Trump endorsed former New York governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City on Monday and threatened to hold back federal funds to the city if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the 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 has trailed badly in public opinion polls in the heavily Democratic city.
Cuomo, a long-time stalwart in the Democratic Party, was running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
Tuesday’s 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 was leading Cuomo in the polls, has energised younger and more progressive voters, but he has also alarmed more moderate Democrats who fear a shift too far to the left may backfire.