Advisers to President Donald Trump have reportedly considered offering New York City Mayor Eric Adams (I) a position in the administration to bolster former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (I) chances of defeating Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in November's high-profile mayoral election. Cuomo is now running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary held earlier this year.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that discussions have also explored whether the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, might be offered an administration role.
According to the report, these talks within Trump’s circle have been ongoing for weeks:
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“The discussions within Mr. Trump’s orbit about making a potentially audacious intervention date back weeks — and it is unclear if they will ultimately amount to anything," the Times reported. "But the topic has taken on added urgency in New York in recent days as an already chaotic race steams into the last stretch of the campaign season.”
It remains unclear whether a specific role has been proposed or whether Adams would accept. The mayor has stated he plans to remain in the race despite polling in fourth place.
The report also mentioned that major New York real‑estate executives and Cuomo allies are involved in discussions. They are reportedly exploring ways to slow Mamdani’s momentum, possibly by persuading Adams or other candidates to drop out in exchange for public or private‑sector positions.
The report highlighted remarks from billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, who told reporters he spoke with Trump on Sunday and believed the race’s dynamics could shift soon:
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“He’s very concerned,” Catsimatidis said. “This is for all the tea in China. This is serious.”
Most top Republicans in Washington view Mamdani as a convenient foil to broadly criticize Democrats in a difficult midterm climate — but Trump appears to differ, according to the report.
The report further noted that although Trump moved his residency to Florida in 2019, he retains property in New York and remains sympathetic to the concerns of wealthy New Yorkers. Trump has observed that he performed better in the city during the 2024 election than in his previous campaigns.