Trump teases threat to defund NYC after governor’s endorsement for mayor

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures before he boards Marine One, to travel to Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen, in Lossiemouth, Scotland, Britain, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Declaring that “he is not a kingmaker,” ten days ago New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul warned President Donald Trump to stay out of the race for mayor of New York City. The President on Monday morning re-entered the fray with a statement that appeared to be a threat to defund the city after the governor overnight endorsed the Democratic Party’s nominee for mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

“President Trump threatened early Monday to withhold federal funds from New York after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s ‘shocking’ endorsement of socialist Zohran Mamdani to be the Big Apple’s mayor,” The New York Post reported.

“Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed the ‘Liddle’ Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen? Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad! President DJT”

Mamdani is not a communist.

On Sunday, Governor Hochul explained in a New York Times guest essay why she is endorsing Assemblyman Mamdani.

She said he is “a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family,” and “a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”

Hochul also said he share her priorities for “strong leadership at the helm of the N.Y.P.D.” and “to keep our streets and subways safe.”

The president’s statement was unclear, but it appeared to suggest withholding federal funds from New York City should Mamdani win.

Critics were stunned.

“Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from NY if NYC elects Mamdani. An impeachable offense for any other president in any other era. In this one it’s just another Monday,” warned MeidasTouch editor-in-chief and attorney Ron Filipkowski.

“Trump just threatened to punish an entire city with federal funding cuts because he doesn’t like who New Yorkers might elect as mayor,” noted investment banker Evaristus Odinikaeze. “That’s not just unconstitutional, it’s authoritarian. Weaponizing government money to suppress democracy is exactly the kind of abuse of power the Founders warned about. And yes, it’s impeachable.”

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