Trump mocks Curtis Sliwa’s cat obsession, says it 'isn't exactly ideal' for NYC mayoral race

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether he’ll endorse Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, mocking the idea of Sliwa turning Gracie Mansion into a home for his many cats.

In a pre-taped interview with Fox News’ 'Sunday Morning Futures', Trump recoiled at the notion and admitted he hasn’t yet decided whether to get involved in the New York City race.

Trump isn't sure if he's a 'big fan' of Curtis Silva

Donald Trump said in a pre-recorded interview with Fox News’ 'Sunday Morning Futures', “Is he really a Republican? Am I a big fan?”

“This isn’t exactly ideal, where he wants to make Gracie Mansion a home for the cats,” Trump remarked. “Gracie Mansion is the magnificent home of Fiorello La Guardia and the great mayors, [like] Rudy Giuliani.” 

While Sliwa, at one point, had 17 cats in his apartment, as per reports from September, he's down to six. Throughout his mayoral campaign, Sliwa has argued that a large, often underestimated group of animal-loving voters in New York City would strongly connect with his candidacy.

Three weeks out from the November 4 election, Trump revealed that he is still laboring over whether he will make an endorsement, dismayed at the options.

“I don’t know that I’m going to get involved,” the POTUS said. “I’ll make a decision soon. I don’t want to be endorsing Democrats as an example. That’s not my thing. But would you rather endorse a Democrat than a communist? Barely. Because they’re almost the same thing.” 

Curtis Silwa’s response to Trump

Donald Trump and Curtis Sliwa haven’t spoken in over a decade, though the long-shot mayoral hopeful has made clear he would try to thaw out his icy rapport with the president amid their “love-hate relationship.” The pair appears to have last spoken on December 24, 2013, when Sliwa had Trump on his radio program.

“Anyone who watched the debate saw that I praised President Trump for what he got right while making clear that I will always put New Yorkers first,” Sliwa told The New York Post in response to Trump’s remarks about endorsing him. “As for the cats, I’m proud of the lifesaving work my wife Nancy and rescuers across New York do every day to protect animals in distress.”

Trump is the first president in the modern era to forgo having an animal in the White House. Notably, former Presidents James Polk and Andrew Johnson also declined to have pets in the executive mansion.

Trump says NYC will be in 'big trouble' if Zohran Mamdani is elected

Donald Trump didn’t hold back while criticizing Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling him “pretty slick” but insisting, “he doesn’t have what it takes — the city will be in big trouble.”

While the POTUS has hinted that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo might be the strongest candidate to challenge Mamdani, who continues to lead in the polls, he has yet to endorse him due to their long-standing tense relationship.

In the meantime, Cuomo’s allies, along with some Republicans, have urged Sliwa to withdraw from the race to clear a path for Cuomo, hoping it would strengthen the challenge against Mamdani. 

But Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, has flatly refused, unlike outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who stepped aside last month.

“Now Cuomo’s saying, ‘I can’t win without Sliwa votes.’ Where are your votes?!” Sliwa said during an appearance on 'The Nate Friedman Show', pushing back on claims that he’s acting as a spoiler. “Go out and get your own votes.”

He also pointed out that Cuomo had already lost to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, which, according to Sliwa, led to the city’s current situation.