US President Donald Trump issued a warning to voters: elect left-wing candidate Zohran Mamdani, and the city will lose federal funds, just a day before New York City’s mayoral election.In a lengthy Truth Social (a platform he owns) post on Monday, Trump wrote: “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.,“It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad,” he said, calling Mamdani’s leadership a “Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster.” Trump added that Mamdani’s “principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful.”Trump also warned Republicans not to split the vote, saying, “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani.” Instead, he urged New Yorkers to back former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. “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. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump wrote.
NYC Mayoral Polls: Clash over federal funding
This was not the first time that Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for NYC, earlier during his appearance on 60 Minutes interview on Sunday.“It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a Communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there,” the US president told CBS.Mamdani was swift to react, speaking at a rally in Astoria he said: “In these final days, what was rumoured, what was feared, has become, naked and unabashed,” the New York Times reported. Mamdani added, “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.”The White House has already clashed with New York over federal aid and infrastructure projects. Earlier this year, $18 billion earmarked for a major tunnel project was held back, while a judge ruled that a separate rescission of $34 million in counterterrorism funding was “a blatant violation of the law.”Trump’s latest comments reinforce his willingness to use federal funding as leverage — despite the fact that appropriations are constitutionally handled by Congress, not the president.
Trump backs Cuomo, he steers clear
Cuomo, who trailed Mamdani in polls but has since closed the gap, appeared to welcome Trump’s tacit endorsement. “Now it’s gonna be up to the Republicans, and I hope they listen to the president,” he told WABC Radio.Interestingly, hours after Trump’s endorsement, Cuomo rejected any suggestion that the 47th POTUS had endorsed him, repeating firmly, “He didn’t say that.Cuomo spent Monday campaigning across all five boroughs, presenting himself as the only candidate experienced enough to “deal with Trump.” Mamdani, 34, who identifies as a democratic socialist, maintained his focus on making New York more affordable, while Sliwa, the Republican nominee, continued his tough-on-crime message.Recent polling by AtlasIntel put Mamdani ahead with 41% support, followed by Cuomo at 34% and Sliwa at 24%.
