US President Donald Trump has said he will restrict federal funds for New York City if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the city’s mayoral elections that will be held tomorrow.
If Mr Mamdani won the election, Mr Trump said on Truth Social that “it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required”.
Polls show Mr Mamdani to be leading against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mr Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who is the Republican nominee.
In his Truth Social post, the US president said New York City “will be a Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster should Mamdani win”.
“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,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump urged New Yorkers to vote for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani,” he said.
Donald Trump called on New Yorkers to vote for Andrew Cuomo
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice.
“You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”
On Saturday, former Democratic President Barack Obama called Mr Mamdani and offered to be a “sounding board” if the 34-year-old frontrunner wins the election.
He also praised Mr Mamdani’s campaign.
The call, first reported by the New York Times, was confirmed by Mamdani’s spokesperson.
“Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” said a spokesperson for Mr Mamdani.
Mr Mamdani’s policies range from hiking taxes on New York City’s wealthiest, raising the corporation tax, freezing stabilised apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidised housing.
Mr Mamdani also proposes to introduce fare-free buses across the city.