U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that New York City could lose access to billions in federal funds if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election. Speaking in a televised interview, Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist” and said it would be “very hard to give much money to New York” under his leadership.
“If you have a communist running New York, all they’ll do is waste the money we send there,”
Trump said, adding that federal support to the city would likely be reduced or suspended if Mamdani is elected.
According to Reuters, New York City has received around $7.4 billion in federal funding this fiscal year — money that supports key services including housing, transportation, and public safety.
At the same time, Trump voiced support for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, calling him a “more responsible choice” for mayor and positioning him as a counterweight to Mamdani’s progressive agenda.
The mayoral election takes place this Tuesday, with polls showing Mamdani leading among left-wing and younger voters. His campaign has focused on housing affordability, climate policy, and policing reform — policies Trump and conservative critics describe as “radical” and “economically dangerous.”
If Trump follows through on his threat, the move could set up a major federal-local confrontation and further deepen the political divide between Washington and America’s largest city.
