Executive Summary
- President Trump strongly urged New Yorkers to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race, praising his “Record of Success” and dismissing Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
- Trump’s endorsement is seen as a mixed bag for Cuomo’s campaign, potentially boosting Republican support but risking alienation of Democratic voters in the heavily Democratic city.
- Trump reiterated his threat to withdraw federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins and also criticized Governor Kathy Hochul and New York’s energy prices and congestion pricing.
The Story So Far
- The New York City mayoral race features an unexpected political alignment, as President Donald Trump has strongly endorsed Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who is running despite having lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani. This unusual backing stems from Donald Trump’s vocal opposition to Mamdani, whom he labels a “communist,” leading him to support Cuomo, a figure with whom he has a complex history including past clashes and a controversial resignation from the governorship.
Why This Matters
- President Trump’s eleventh-hour endorsement of Andrew Cuomo significantly reshapes the New York City mayoral race, potentially offering a boost among Republicans while alienating crucial Democratic voters in the heavily blue city, and highlights an unusual political alignment that could intensify federal-local tensions, particularly given Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds if Zohran Mamdani wins.
Who Thinks What?
- Donald Trump strongly endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor, praising his “Record of Success” while dismissing Zohran Mamdani as incapable and a “communist,” and discouraged voting for Republican Curtis Sliwa.
- Zohran Mamdani views Donald Trump’s endorsement of Andrew Cuomo as confirmation that Cuomo would prioritize Trump’s interests over New York City’s, consistently linking the former governor to Trump.
- Andrew Cuomo presents his past interactions with Donald Trump as an asset for New York City, suggesting he has the necessary experience to handle the president, unlike Mamdani.
President Donald Trump has strongly urged New Yorkers to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race, just one day before the election on November 4, 2025. Speaking via Truth Social on Monday, Trump stated that voters “really have no choice” but to back Cuomo, whom he praised for a “Record of Success,” while dismissing Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani as “not!” capable and falsely labeling him a communist.
Trump’s Endorsement and Reactions
Trump’s endorsement, delivered on the eve of the election, could present a mixed bag for Cuomo’s campaign. While potentially bolstering his support among Republicans, it risks alienating Democratic voters in the heavily Democratic city, who might associate Cuomo with Trump.
Mamdani, who unexpectedly defeated Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary, has consistently sought to connect the former governor to Trump. He argues that Cuomo would not effectively challenge powerful interests in New York or Washington.
President Trump, a Queens native, has frequently criticized Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist. He reiterated his threat to withdraw federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins the Tuesday election, “other than the very minimum as required.”
Earlier, Trump had offered more reserved support for Cuomo, framing the election as a choice between “a bad Democrat and a communist.” He made these comments during a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, also discounting Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani quickly capitalized on Trump’s Sunday remarks, posting congratulations to Cuomo on X and adding, “I know how hard you worked for this.” On Monday, Mamdani further reacted, stating 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.”
Trump also discouraged voters from supporting Sliwa, stating, “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani.” Similarly, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, an ally of Trump, endorsed Cuomo over both Mamdani and Sliwa, echoing Trump’s sentiment about the Republican candidate.
Surveys of likely voters have consistently shown Mamdani with a double-digit lead over Cuomo, with Sliwa in third place. While the precise margin varies, most polls indicate Mamdani is shy of securing a majority of support.
Cuomo has a long history with Trump, dating back to his tenure as governor before his 2021 resignation amid sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied. The two frequently clashed during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Cuomo has presented his past interactions with Trump as an asset for New York City, suggesting Mamdani lacks the experience to handle the president.
Mamdani countered this argument during a debate, stating, “You will hear from Andrew Cuomo about his experience as if the issue is that we don’t know about it. The issue is that we have all experienced your experience.”
Broader New York Political Landscape
Beyond the mayoral race, President Trump also focused on wider New York politics on social media. He criticized Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, who campaigned with Mamdani over the weekend.
Trump accused Governor Hochul of “killing the entire region with Energy Prices that are OUT OF CONTROL.” He further stated that he would ask Transportation Secretary Dean Duffy “to take a good, long look at terminating New York City Congestion Pricing.”
President Trump’s strong backing of Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race underscores a complex political dynamic, with the endorsement potentially shaping the final hours of the campaign. The election’s outcome will reveal the impact of this unexpected alignment in a deeply Democratic urban center.
