Trump threatens to scale back funds for New York City if Zohran Mamdani wins mayor election

US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, warning that he may cut federal funding to the city if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday’s election.

The endorsement marks a striking political move, with Trump — a Republican — backing Cuomo, a longtime Democrat now running as an independent, instead of his own party’s nominee, Curtis Sliwa. Polls show Sliwa trailing far behind in the heavily Democratic city, while Mamdani leads Cuomo heading into election day.

Cuomo entered the race as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary. The contest has drawn national attention as a reflection of the broader ideological struggle within the Democratic Party.

Mamdani, 34, a progressive state assembly member who identifies as a democratic socialist, has built a strong base among young and left-leaning voters, while moderates warn that his policies could alienate centrist Democrats.

Republicans have used Mamdani’s rise to rally their base, with Trump labeling him a far-left extremist and urging voters to back Cuomo instead. On his Truth Social platform, Trump said that supporting Sliwa would only split the vote and benefit Mamdani.

Trump also threatened to scale back federal funding for New York City if Mamdani becomes mayor, saying he would provide only the legally required minimum. The federal government currently contributes about $7.4 billion to the city’s budget for fiscal year 2026, roughly 6.4 percent of total spending, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

Throughout his second term, Trump has frequently used the threat of withholding federal funds to pressure states and cities over issues such as climate policy, transgender rights, pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and diversity initiatives.

Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and later moved to the United States, stunned political observers in June with his decisive win in the Democratic primary, setting up a high-stakes general election that could redefine New York City’s political landscape