Zohran Mamdani says Trump's donors 'will not dictate' NYC mayoral race after Eric Adams' exit

WASHINGTON, DC: Just hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced his decision to end his reelection bid on Sunday, September 28, Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani took aim at President Donald Trump and his billionaire donors, declaring they "will not dictate" the outcome of the election.

The 33-year-old accused Trump of trying to tilt the race in favor of independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, warning that outside influence won’t decide the city’s future.

Zohran Mamdani vows to show Trump that New Yorkers are tired of his politics

Appearing on MSNBC, Zohran Mamdani delivered a pointed rebuke of Donald Trump and his supporters.

"Donald Trump and his billionaire donors may be able to determine the actions of Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo, but they will not dictate the results of this election," Mamdani declared. "This continues to be the same election as it was when we started on October 23rd [2024]."

He accused Trump of trying to manipulate the race by backing certain candidates and undermining his campaign for affordability.

"Donald Trump has spoken time and again about how he wants to narrow this race, how he wants to use every tool at his disposal to try and stop this campaign for affordability," the Democrat said. "And we’re seeing, amidst all of that here, yet again, the moment where he is shaping this race. But we’re going to show him that New Yorkers are tired of his politics and they’re tired of being priced out of the city."

Mamdani’s televised remarks echoed a video he shared on social media shortly after Adams announced he was ending his campaign.

In the post, Mamdani criticized Adams’ leadership and directly addressed Cuomo, saying, "To Andrew Cuomo. You got your wish. You wanted Trump and your billionaire friends to help you clear the field. But don’t forget. You wanted me as your opponent in the primary too, and we beat you by 13 points."

A recent Suffolk University City View poll reflects Mamdani’s strong standing in the race, with 45% of respondents supporting him. Cuomo followed with 25%, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Adams trailed with 9% and 8%, respectively.

Andrew Cuomo responds to Eric Adams' exit from NYC mayoral race

Eric Adams announced the end of his reelection campaign, citing intense media scrutiny and the city’s campaign finance board’s decision to withhold funds due to concerns over questionable donations.

Adams said, "I cannot continue my reelection campaign. The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board's decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign."

Sitting beside a photo of his late mother in a recorded video message, the 65-year-old acknowledged that public trust had eroded following federal corruption charges. While defending his record as a fighter for the city, he avoided addressing the specific allegations in detail.

Adams confirmed he will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, his name will still appear on the November ballot, as the official deadline to withdraw has already passed.

Cuomo responded by praising Adams' decision as a "selfless act" done in the best interest of the city. He warned that a victory by Mamdani would be dangerous for New York City and said Adams’ exit has dramatically reshaped the race.

In a conversation with Eyewitness News, the former governor dismissed Republican candidate Sliwa as non-viable, before noting he has had no recent contact with either Adams or Sliwa.

"I believe Mayor Adams is 100% sincere. I applaud his selflessness. There's now more attention on just me than just Mr Mamdani, it is a two-person race... Now we can juxtapose the two philosophies, and people can see those facts," Cuomo remarked.