BBC News : US President Donald Trump has endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayor’s race, urging voters not to elect left-wing front-runner Zohran Mamdani.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday evening. “He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
Responding to Trump’s tepid backing on the eve of the highly-watched election, former New York governor Cuomo said: “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.”
The president earlier said he would be reluctant to send more than the minimum federal funding to his hometown of New York if Mamdani is elected.
Opinion polls indicate Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, is ahead of Cuomo, who is running as an Independent after Mamdani bested him in the Democratic primary. The Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, trails behind.
Trump, also a Republican, declined to endorse Sliwa in his post, saying “A vote for Curtis Sliwa … is a vote for Mamdani”.
The president added, “It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required” if Mamdani is elected.
This echoed comments Trump made in a television interview on Sunday, during which he incorrectly referred to Mamdani as a “communist”.
“It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York,” Trump said. “Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there”.
Responding to Trump’s comments about funding on Monday, Mamdani said he would “address that threat for what it is: it is a threat. It is not the law.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to cut federal grants and funding for projects primarily located in Democratic-run areas. New York City received $7.4bn (£5.7bn) in federal funding this fiscal year.
Also on Monday, Mamdani said 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,” Mamdani said.
