President Donald Trump has threatened to cut federal funds if Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral election, calling him a “communist.” Mamdani fired back, saying Trump’s warning “is a threat, not the law,” as polls show him leading over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
Tensions are running high in New York City as President Donald Trump stirred fresh controversy on the eve of the city’s mayoral election. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump warned that if Zohran Mamdani, whom he labeled a “communist,” wins the race for mayor, federal funds to New York could be slashed.
Trump’s Warning: “Stop Mamdani or Pay”
Trump’s post read:
“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. I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.”
He repeated the same sentiment during a recent interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes, declaring it would be “hard” for him to provide substantial funding to a “communist-run New York.”
However, experts note that federal funding is determined by Congress, not directly by the president. Trump’s statements, while politically charged, lack legal authority to withhold approved federal funds — a point Mamdani later emphasized in his response.
Legal & Political Fallout
The remarks have already drawn scrutiny. Legal analysts argue that impoundment or withholding funds based on political preference violates federal law, citing past rulings against similar moves. Earlier this year, the administration’s decision to withhold $18 billion for a New York tunnel project and $34 million in counterterrorism funding was overturned by a federal judge as “a blatant violation of the law.”
Cuomo Aligns With Trump’s Position
In a surprising twist, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent mayoral candidate, appeared to echo Trump’s tone. Speaking on 77WABC radio, Cuomo said,
“Now it’s gonna be up to the Republicans, and I hope they listen to the president.”
Later, on Fox News, Cuomo toughened his stance, claiming New York needs a mayor who can “stand up to Donald Trump,” while also repeating Trump’s threat to withhold funds — and even suggesting the use of the National Guard.
Mamdani Hits Back: “Trump’s Threat Is Not the Law”
At a campaign rally in Astoria, Queens, Zohran Mamdani wasted no time addressing the controversy head-on.
“What was rumored, what was feared, has become naked and unabashed,” Mamdani said. “The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo shows Trump’s true motive — he wants a mayor who serves him, not New Yorkers.”
He further dismissed Trump’s statements as legally meaningless:
“It is a threat. It is not the law. 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.”
Mamdani concluded by asserting that federal funding belongs to the people of New York, not to any administration’s discretion:
“This funding is not something Donald Trump is giving us. This is something that we are owed.”
Election Eve Polls Favor Mamdani
According to the latest Atlas Intel poll (ending October 30), Mamdani currently leads the race with 41% of the vote, followed by Cuomo at 34% and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailing at 24%.
As New Yorkers head to the polls, the battle has turned into a test not just of political strength but of how far presidential rhetoric can go in shaping local elections.
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