Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Nov 4: In a dramatic twist on the eve of New York City’s mayoral election, US President Donald Trump has urged residents to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo, describing him as the only viable choice to lead the 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,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday. He added that Cuomo “is capable of it,” while Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani “is not.”
Trump’s surprise endorsement, calling Cuomo’s tenure a “record of success,” has sent political ripples through the city — potentially complicating Cuomo’s standing among Democratic voters even as it bolsters his image with moderate and conservative New Yorkers.
Cuomo, responding to reporters on Monday, distanced himself from the endorsement, saying, “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.”
Trump, who has often criticized Mamdani — a 34-year-old democratic socialist from Queens — reiterated his disapproval, labeling him “a communist” and warning he would cut off federal funds to the city if Mamdani won. “Other than the very minimum as required,” Trump said.
Mamdani, reacting to the president’s remarks during a CNN interview, said, “The president is threatened by our campaign. We’ve diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers’ lives — the cost of living — but unlike him, we’ll actually deliver on it.”
At a canvassing event earlier on Monday, Mamdani told supporters that Trump’s comments showed where Cuomo’s loyalties lie. “The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo shows Trump knows who would be the best mayor for him — not for New Yorkers,” he said.
Trump had previously hinted at his stance during a “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday, saying, “I’m not a fan of Cuomo, but if it’s between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’ll pick the bad Democrat every time.”
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa was dismissed by Trump, who wrote, “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani.”
Adding to the political buzz, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, also endorsed Cuomo on Monday, echoing Trump’s view. “Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi — or whatever his name is,” Musk wrote on X.
Recent opinion polls continue to show Mamdani leading Cuomo by double digits, with Sliwa trailing in third place. Despite Trump’s intervention, analysts say the outcome will depend on voter turnout and whether Cuomo can rally centrist Democrats in the final hours before the polls open.