Former President Donald Trump has unexpectedly endorsed Andrew Cuomo, urging his supporters to vote for the former New York governor in the New York City mayoral race instead of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump expressed concerns about Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “Communist Candidate,” and suggested that Mamdani’s victory would jeopardize federal funding for the city. According to Polymarket, Mamdani currently holds a 91% predicted chance of winning the election.
Trump argued that a vote for Sliwa, whom he playfully suggested looks better without his signature beret, is effectively a vote for Mamdani. He framed Cuomo as the more viable option, citing his “Record of Success” and capability to do a “fantastic job.” Trump’s endorsement comes as a surprise, given his previous criticisms of Cuomo, particularly surrounding the latter’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent investigations into his conduct. This unexpected endorsement injects further uncertainty into an already closely watched mayoral race, where recent polling data is scarce following Cuomo’s entrance.