Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo believes President Donald Trump will control New York City if socialist Zohran Mamdani is elected as the next mayor.
Mamdani is favored in the polls to win the city’s mayoralty, but Cuomo has tried to knock him off with warnings that he’s not experienced enough for the job. That also includes experience in dealing with Trump, who Cuomo said would knock Mamdani on his “tuchus.”
The former governor made the comments on an airing of SiriusXM’s Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
“If Mamdani wins, you are going to see Trump come in here and take over New York City. You mark my words, Stephen A,” he said. Cuomo added that Trump “needs an excuse” to act.
Cuomo said that Mamdani gave Trump the excuse to send over troops.
“He doesn’t just send the National Guard; he sends the National Guard as a power play. He’s making a statement: ‘These Democrats don’t know how to run a city. They’re dangerous, these Democrats,” Cuomo said.
“He needs that hook to do it. Mamdani gives him that hook on steroids. He’ll send the National Guard, he’ll send ICE. He’ll say that he personally has to have his administration oversee the city because you have an incompetent 34-year-old socialist.”
Trump has hung the threat of sending the National Guard into New York City over the candidates. He suggested Tuesday that he may even send in a force greater than the National Guard into New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, or other U.S. cities.
“We have cities that are troubled; we can’t have cities that are troubled,” he said.
Mamdani has said that while he is willing to speak with Trump, he would resist any efforts to send the National Guard into New York City.
“My message would be that if you ever want to get on the phone to talk about how we can actually deliver on the promise that you made to the American people of lowering the cost of living, I’m always ready,” Mamdani said in an interview.
“But if you want to speak about how you can make life more difficult for New Yorkers, by coming after so many in this city and the fabric of the city itself, then I’ll be there to fight you,” he added.
Trump has said Mamdani is a “communist” and that he would send in the National Guard and cut off federal funding if he wins.
“We have a communist, 33 years old, doesn’t know a thing, probably never worked a day in his life, and he sort of caught on. I’m not going to send a lot of money to New York,” Trump said earlier this month. “We’re not going to ruin one of our great cities because we’ll make that great. We will clean up the crime in about 30 days.”
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Trump reportedly prefers Cuomo to any other candidate in the race, including Republican Curtis Sliwa. Some believe Cuomo has the best chance to win against Mamdani, though Sliwa may stunt his chances.
Early voting has already begun in the race, and the general election is next week.
