NYC mayoral candidates react to report about President Trump considering involvement in mayor's race
The candidates running for mayor of New York City are reacting to a New York Times report that says President Trump is deciding whether to get involved in the race.
According to the Times, Mr. Trump wants to stop self-proclaimed Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani and is trying to figure out which candidate has the best chance to beat him.
Report claims Trump spoke with Cuomo about NYC mayor's race
The Times reporting states that Mr. Trump has had a phone conversation with Cuomo, who is running as an independent, but sources close to the Cuomo campaign tell CBS News New York political reporter Marcia Kramer the two have never discussed getting involved in the race. Those sources say that the president would like to see Mamdani as a candidate because he's "political paydirt" or Mayor Eric Adams because "he owns him."
Mr. Trump and Cuomo frequently feuded in the past, and Mr. Trump had the Justice Department investigate Cuomo.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Cuomo's campaign said:
"The Governor and the President have not spoken in some time. As far as I know, they have not discussed the race. Regarding his reported interest, it seems clear that President Trump would either prefer Mr. Mamdani, whom he refers to as a 'commie,' because he believes Mamdani would serve as a political boon to Republicans nationwide in the midterms, symbolizing what he sees as the Democratic Party's extremism. Alternatively, he may favor Eric Adams, who is a wholly owned subsidiary of the President. And there is already a Republican in the race, who is the nominee of President Trump's party. There is only one candidate in this race who can effectively defend New York values and take on Donald Trump – the one official who already has: Andrew Cuomo. We'll leave the palace intrigue to the gossip mill. In the meantime, Governor Cuomo is out crisscrossing the city, speaking directly to voters about uniting to build a New New York and deliver real change and progress for all."
In the Oval Office on Wednesday night, Mr. Trump was asked if he had a phone call with Cuomo.
"I haven't. No, I haven't," he said.
Mamdani, Sliwa respond to Trump's reported potential involvement in race
Mamdani put out the following statement in response to the report:
"Andrew Cuomo has spent his career governing for the powerful and prioritizing his own self-interests over those of the people he was sworn to serve. This is not just a shady backroom deal by a cynical politician, it is disqualifying. It is a betrayal.
"Donald Trump is sending masked agents to rip our neighbors off the street, gutting the social services so many New Yorkers rely on, and threatening to deport me for having the audacity to stand up to him and his billionaire friends. The job of New York City Mayor is not to be jester for a wannabe king, it is to protect the people of this city."
"Whatever Donald Trump seeks to do to influence the outcome of this election, I have more faith in New Yorkers, themselves, who have shown, whether it be in the previous presidential election or whether it be through this primary race, that they do not want to support our current president's vision," Mamdani added.
"This is a great opportunity for Mamdani to use the president as a boogeyman or an albatross to put around the neck of former Gov. Cuomo," political analyst J.C. Polanco said.
Polanco says, however, it might be best if Mr. Trump stays in the background and tries to be a rainmaker.
"There are many ways that President Trump could be helpful. The worst way would be an endorsement. It's the kiss of death in New York City," he said.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa also reacted to the report.
"There's no doubt he talks often with Eric Adams. He talks often with Cuomo, who he's known, their families have known one another. He doesn't talk to me, so I have advised the president publicly, be like Switzerland, stay out of this race," he said.
Polanco says if Trump chooses to stay on the sidelines, he could encourage others to donate or provide support to any opponent of Mamdani, or the president may choose to do nothing at all.
At an event Wednesday, Adams did not take questions on the race, and his office did not respond to a request for comment.
