Zohran Mamdani called out Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding in New York CityLIVE – Updated at 00:23 US president also backs independent candidate Andrew Cuomo,

 LIVE – Updated at 00:23

US president also backs independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in disgrace.

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Zohran Mamdani called out Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding in New York City. The remarks came during a campaign event in Queens on Monday.

“I will address that threat for what it is: It is a threat. It is not the law,” Mamdani said, according to the New York Times. “And too often, we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it is already legal, just by virtue of who is saying it.”

Trump had earlier posted on social media that if Mamdani was elected “it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required”. The president repeatedly called Mamdani a “communist” and urged voters to back Andrew Cuomo, who’s running as an independent, for mayor.

“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,” Mamdani said at the campaign event.

“This funding is not something that Donald Trump is giving us here in New York City,” Mamdani added. “This is something that we are, in fact, owed in New York.”

03 Nov 2025 23:42

Andrew Cuomo said that if he were in a one-on-one contest against Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor he would win. The remark came shortly after Donald Trump urged voters to back Cuomo for mayor, saying a vote for republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is a “vote for Mamdani”.

In an interview on 77WABC radio, Cuomo, who’s a former democrat but is running as an independent, said “The president is right… A vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani. That’s why this election is up to the Republicans.” In the interview, Cuomo suggested it was selfish of Sliwa to stay in the race.

Earlier in the day, Elon Musk – the once close ally and advisor to Trump – also told voters to back Cuomo saying, “Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is”.

Trump told 60 Minutes in an interview on Sunday that he preferred a “bad Democrat” for New York City mayor, in reference to Cuomo. He said that was better than a “communist”, meaning Mamdani. Mamdani, who’s the democratic candidate for mayor, responded on X saying “Congratulations @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this”.