US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric in the New York City mayoral race, issuing a warning that the city would face “complete and total disaster” if Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the November 4 election.
Trump also suggested federal funding could be curtailed under his administration should Mamdani take office.
In a lengthy Truth Social post on Monday, Trump branded Mamdani a “Communist” and said New York would not receive more than the “minimum” federal support if he becomes mayor.
“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,” Trump wrote, claiming the city would have “ZERO chance of success, or even survival” under Mamdani’s leadership.
He added that backing a candidate with what he called “communist” principles would push the city further into decline.
“It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad,” Trump stated.
Trump Urges Support For Cuomo Over Mamdani
New Yorkers will vote for their next mayor on November 4, and with the race tightening, Trump urged voters to back former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo instead — despite their previously strained relationship.
“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE,” Trump posted. “A vote for Curtis Sliwa… is a vote for Mamdani.”
He continued, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him… He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
Trump also criticised Mamdani’s tenure in the state legislature, claiming he “was nothing as an Assemblyman” and “ranked at the bottom of the class.”
Comments echoed in the interview.
Trump hinted at the same stance in a CBS 60 Minutes interview, stating:
“It’s going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York… if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
He added he would pick “a bad Democrat” over “a communist… all the time.”
Mamdani Responds With Sarcasm
Mamdani, 34 — a Ugandan-born, Queens-raised state Assembly member and democratic socialist — responded on X shortly after the remarks.
“Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this,” he wrote, sharing a graphic that read “TRUMP endorses CUOMO” with images of both men.
State Of The Race
According to The Hill, Mamdani currently leads the three-way contest with 50% support, followed by Cuomo at 25%, and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 21%. Around 4% of voters remain undecided.
