On Monday night, President Donald Trump made headlines by explicitly urging residents of New York City to cast their votes for Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming mayoral election, rather than supporting the Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. This surprising endorsement of Cuomo's independent candidacy comes just one day before the election, following a similar endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Both Trump and Musk have posited that voting for the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, would ultimately be a vote for Mamdani, who has maintained a significant lead in polls leading up to the general election. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, "A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani." He further emphasized the necessity of choosing Cuomo, despite personal opinions, remarking, "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!"
Andrew Cuomo, a former governor and member of the Democratic Party, is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the party's primary back in June. In response to Trump's endorsement, Mamdani commented during an interview on CNN, "Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign." He sarcastically referred to the duo of Trump and Musk, stating, "What a pair!" Mamdani continued, asserting that they support Cuomo because they believe he will be their "puppet" in New York City.
In his Truth Social post, Trump delivered a stern warning regarding federal funding, stating that if Mamdani—a self-identified democratic socialist—wins the election, he would significantly limit federal contributions to New York. "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," Trump wrote, dismissing the city’s chances of success under Mamdani's leadership.
Elon Musk also weighed in on the election by posting on his social media platform X, reminding citizens to vote and implying that a vote for Curtis Sliwa would inadvertently support Mamdani, whom he referred to as "Mumdumi or whatever his name is."
According to The New York Times, Mamdani revealed during a campaign event in Queens that he had anticipated Trump's endorsement of Cuomo for months. "In these final days, what was rumored, what was feared, has become naked and unabashed," Mamdani remarked, highlighting the MAGA movement's unexpected support for Cuomo. He concluded that this endorsement reflects Trump's belief that Cuomo would serve his interests rather than those of the people of New York City.
As the election approaches, the dynamics of this mayoral race continue to shift, with endorsements from high-profile figures like Trump and Musk potentially influencing voter sentiment and decisions.