Updated by HICGI News Agency at 1636 EAT on Tuesday 4 November 2025

NEW YORK | Hours before polls opened in the closely watched New York City mayoral election on Monday, former President Donald Trump endorsed Andrew Cuomo and suggested he could withhold federal funds if Democrat Zohran Mamdani were to win.

Trump had first hinted at this stance during a “60 Minutes” interview on CBS News aired Sunday, where he labeled Mamdani a “communist” and warned that a victory for him could make it difficult “to give a lot of money to New York.”

Polls Ahead of Election

According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Mamdani led with 46.1 percent of the vote, holding a 14.3-point advantage over independent Cuomo (31.8 percent) and a 29.8-point lead over Republican Curtis Sliwa (16.3 percent) as polling stations opened at 6 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT).

Trump’s Warning

On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required… It is my strong conviction that 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.”

He also encouraged voters to back Cuomo, cautioning against Sliwa:

“A vote for Curtis Sliwa… is a vote for Mamdani.”

Trump repeated similar claims on CBS News, stating it would be hard for him to provide federal funding to New York if a “communist” ran the city.

Mamdani Responds

Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly labeled Mamdani a communist. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and a US citizen originally from Uganda, has denied the claim. On NBC’s Meet the Press in June, he said, “No, I am not [a communist].”

His campaign focuses on affordable housing, rent freezes, free universal childcare, and lower public transport costs. Experts note that while he advocates socialist policies, this does not meet the definition of communism, which entails a centrally planned economy and a single-party political system.

In June, PolitiFact debunked claims of Mamdani being a communist. Stanford professor Anna Grzymala-Busse explained:

“Communism involves a centrally planned economy, with no market forces. He is not calling for any of this.”

Even Cuomo has said: “Mamdani is not a communist. He’s a socialist. But we don’t need a socialist mayor either.”

Cuomo’s Campaign

Cuomo, an independent candidate and former New York governor (2011–2021) and attorney general (2007–2010), initially ran in the Democratic primary but lost to Mamdani, receiving 43.61 percent of votes to Mamdani’s 56.39 percent.

His campaign has faced scrutiny over finances. In April, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) found that his campaign failed to provide evidence of digital donations, costing him nearly $3 million in public funds. In May, Cuomo’s campaign was fined $675,000 for improper coordination with a supporting Super PAC.

Federal Funds for New York City

According to a New York State Comptroller report, New York City requires $7.4 billion in federal funding for fiscal year 2026, accounting for 6.4 percent of total spending. The remainder comes from state taxes, fees, and other income. Federal funds largely support housing and social services programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Legal Limits on Presidential Power

Under the US Constitution, Congress, not the president, determines federal funding allocations to states.

Article I, Section 8: Congress can collect taxes and decide how money is spent.

Article I, Section 9: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”

A president withholding funds approved by Congress would constitute unconstitutional impoundment.

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974, passed after President Nixon attempted to withhold funds, allows the president to delay spending for 45 days but requires Congressional approval for any long-term withholding.

Currently, Congress is controlled by Republicans: 53 Senate seats and 220 House seats, versus 47 and 212 for Democrats, respectively.

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here

Email: editorial@hicginewsagency.com TalkBusiness@hicginewsagency.com WhatsApp +256713137566

Follow us on all social media, type “HICGI News Agency” .