President Trump endorses Cuomo for New York mayor. But will his support help or hinder the former Democrat’s campaign?
As his hometown of New York votes for its next mayor, United States President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and former New York state governor who is standing as an independent this time.
The Republican president’s endorsement of Cuomo – who lost the Democratic primary to self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in June – came just hours before polling booths opened on Tuesday in the closely watched election.
Trump has called Mamdani, a Muslim immigrant who is campaigning on a promise to make New York more affordable for its residents via rent freezes and universal childcare, a “communist“. He has also threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins.
“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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Mamdani is currently leading in the polls with 46 percent support – a double-digit lead over Cuomo’s 32 percent.
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