President Donald Trump ignited controversy just hours before New York City polls opened on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo for mayor and threatening to slash federal funding to the city if democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani won the election.
Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on November 4. He becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor and also one of its youngest mayors in over a century.
In a Truth Social post published Monday evening, Trump urged voters to reject Mamdani, whom he repeatedly labeled a communist. The president indicated it would be highly unlikely he would contribute federal funds beyond the very minimum required if Mamdani secured victory, calling the prospect a complete and total economic and social disaster for the city.
The inflammatory post escalated rhetoric from Trump’s Sunday appearance on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, during which host Norah O’Donnell asked about comparisons between Trump and Mamdani as charismatic figures breaking old political rules. Trump dismissed the comparison and declared it would be hard for him as president to send substantial money to New York if a communist were running the city, suggesting such funds would simply be wasted.
Trump even took aim at Jewish voters in the race. “Any Jewish person that votes for him is a very stupid person,” Trump wrote on Tuesday morning, adding another layer of controversy to his election interference.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, pushed back forcefully against the threats. He told reporters he would address the threats for what they are, emphasizing they represent presidential words rather than settled law. Mamdani declared he would not be intimidated by the president or anyone else, stating his job is to serve New Yorkers.
The Democratic then nominee characterized Trump’s embrace of Cuomo as reflecting the president’s understanding that the former governor would be the best mayor for Trump’s administration, not for New York City or its residents. “I will not be intimidated by this president,” Mamdani stated while addressing concerns about Trump’s funding threats.
According to New York State Comptroller analysis, the city requires approximately $7.4 billion in federal funding for fiscal year 2026, representing 6.4 percent of total spending. The federal funds largely support housing and social services agencies, with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families representing the largest non-pandemic federal allocation.
Constitutional experts noted the president lacks legal authority to unilaterally withhold federal funding. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress, not the president, power to allocate federal funds to states. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act, passed after Richard Nixon attempted similar maneuvers, allows presidents to withhold funds for only 45 days before requiring Congressional approval.
Trump’s tepid endorsement of Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, came with qualifications. The president wrote that whether voters personally like Cuomo or not, they must vote for him and hope he does a fantastic job. Trump dismissed Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa entirely, suggesting a vote for Sliwa equates to a vote for Mamdani.
Cuomo acknowledged the awkward nature of receiving Trump’s backing. The independent candidate, who served as Democratic governor from 2011 to 2021, responded that Trump was not endorsing him but rather opposing Mamdani. Cuomo lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary with 43.61 percent of votes compared to Mamdani’s 56.39 percent before launching his independent campaign.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s involvement in the local election. “The president is a New Yorker, and he loves New York. He has made his thoughts on this election quite clear,” Leavitt said during Tuesday’s press briefing.
Mamdani rejects the communist label repeatedly applied by Trump and Republicans. The state assemblyman describes himself as a democratic socialist, comparing his political philosophy to that of Scandinavian politicians. His campaign focuses on making New York more affordable through rent freezes, free universal childcare and lower public transport costs.
The Trump administration has already attempted to reduce funding to New York City under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat. The administration blocked $12 million in federal grants earlier this year as part of broader efforts to strip funding from jurisdictions limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Trump grew up in the New York borough of Queens and maintains property ownership in the city. During his “60 Minutes” interview, he claimed Mamdani would perform worse than former Mayor Bill de Blasio, whom Trump frequently criticized during his first presidential term.
