Trump says it would be 'hard for me' to fund New York City if Mamdani becomes mayor

November 3, 2025

President Donald Trump stated he would hesitate to provide federal funding to New York City if democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election, calling him a "Communist" who would waste taxpayer money. Trump effectively endorsed Mamdani's opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, describing him as preferable to what he characterized as a communist candidate, despite Cuomo being a Democrat. Mamdani, who leads in polls ahead of Tuesday's election, rejects the communist label and describes himself as similar to a Scandinavian-style politician, while criticizing Cuomo as a Trump puppet.

Who is affected

New York City residents (who depend on federal funding for city services)
Zohran Mamdani (Democratic mayoral front-runner facing Trump's criticism)
Andrew Cuomo (former Governor running as Trump's preferred candidate)
Democratic-run cities and jurisdictions across the United States
New York City government and agencies receiving federal grants

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is deploying National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities for crime crackdowns
The Trump administration is seeking to strip funding from jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities
Mamdani and Cuomo are actively campaigning for the mayoral election

Why it matters

This election has national significance because New York City is America's largest city and a major financial hub that receives $7.4 billion in federal funding annually. Trump's threat to withhold federal funds based on ideological differences with an elected mayor sets a concerning precedent for federal-local government relations and could impact essential city services. The situation exemplifies the broader Trump administration strategy of using federal funding as leverage against Democratic jurisdictions, potentially affecting millions of urban residents whose local leaders don't align with federal political preferences.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC