Trump tells voters to back Andrew Cuomo over 'communist' Zohran Mamdani to ‘save New York City’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Just ahead of the 2025 New York City mayoral election, President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to publicly announce his endorsement and express strong support in the upcoming race.

Trump issued a blunt directive that New Yorkers “must vote” for former Governor Andrew Cuomo over Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. He also urged them to abstain from supporting Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Trump backs Andrew Cuomo, warns against ‘Communist candidate’ Zohran Mamdani

Trump urged residents to reject both Mamdani and Sliwa, insisting that voting for Cuomo was the only way to “save New York City.”

“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!” Trump wrote, marking one of his most unexpected endorsements yet.

In his post, he labeled Mamdani a “Communist candidate” who would bring “Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster” to the city if elected.

He warned that a Mamdani victory would have dire federal consequences for 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.” 

Taking a jab at his party’s own nominee, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, Trump wrote, “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani.”

For weeks, Trump has made it clear that he believes Republicans should support Cuomo instead of Sliwa, and he has now reiterated that message even more emphatically.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE,” he wrote. His comments underscored the belief that Sliwa’s continued presence in the race could split the anti-Mamdani vote, effectively handing victory to the Democratic nominee.

By backing Cuomo, long a political rival and former Democratic governor, Trump has sought to position himself as a defender of the city’s stability over partisan loyalty.

Cuomo’s campaign responded cautiously: “President Trump doesn’t support me. He opposes Mamdani, right?”

The ex-governor told reporters Monday night, “He believes that Mamdani is an existential threat to New York City. He believes he’s a communist. He believes he’ll bankrupt New York.”