President Donald Trump has reportedly told close associates that he views progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani as virtually unbeatable in the upcoming New York City mayoral race. According to The Wall Street Journal and The Independent, Trump and his advisers see Mamdani, the 34-year-old Queens assemblyman, holding a commanding lead over independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in polling ahead of the November 4 election. Trump expressed skepticism that Sliwa dropping out would meaningfully improve Cuomo’s chances, despite efforts from Eric Trump, investor Bill Ackman, and businessman John Catsimatidis to persuade Sliwa to step aside.
Speaking briefly to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump offered reluctant support to Cuomo, framing the choice as between “a Democrat or a communist,” stating he would prefer the Democrat. However, he indicated that even if Sliwa withdrew from the race, Cuomo’s odds of victory would remain slim. Sliwa himself has firmly rejected any offers to end his campaign, warning that attempts to bribe him to quit could be reported to the New York District Attorney.
Trump, a native New Yorker whose business empire is headquartered in Manhattan, has privately acknowledged that a Mamdani victory could threaten his financial interests. Mamdani has campaigned on raising taxes on the wealthy to fund housing and public transit initiatives under his “affordability agenda.” Last month, Trump threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if Mamdani won and has since canceled $18 billion in planned infrastructure funding, attributing the move to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The three candidates—Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa—participated in a final televised debate in which Mamdani criticized Cuomo as “a desperate man” clinging to power. Cuomo countered by calling Mamdani “too divisive” and challenged his legislative record, arguing that he had never proposed significant bills on housing or education. Trump has also repeatedly attacked Mamdani online, describing him as a “Communist Lunatic” and warning of potential federal intervention in the city, including threats to review Mamdani’s legal status in connection with Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities.
Mamdani’s unexpected rise from relative obscurity to presumptive Democratic nominee has alarmed Republicans, who view him as emblematic of shifting political trends in the city. His campaign strategy has drawn criticism for its explicit plan to shift the tax burden toward wealthier, predominantly White neighborhoods while addressing disparities affecting Black, Latino, and immigrant homeowners in outer-borough communities like Brownsville and Jamaica. Policy documents from his campaign argue that current property tax structures disproportionately favor wealthy White homeowners in Manhattan and Brooklyn, leaving marginalized communities overtaxed and more vulnerable to foreclosure.
Overall, Mamdani’s candidacy has created a highly charged political environment in New York City, drawing national attention and strong reactions from both Trump and other Republican figures. The race highlights broader tensions over wealth, race, and housing policy in the city, as well as Trump’s ongoing focus on protecting his business interests while maintaining influence over local and national politics.
