They’re playing the Trump card.
President Trump isn’t on the ballot but he took center stage on the eve of New York City’s mayoral election — with both Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo invoking The Don as they delivered their parting shots Monday.
Front-runner and Democratic nominee Mamdani pushed the misleading claim that Trump endorsed Cuomo’s independent bid during a flashy dawn rally outside City Hall after he walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani marched across the Brooklyn Bridge with supporters on Monday. FNTV“We are here to show that the answer to a Donald Trump presidency is not to create its mirror image here in City Hall,” the socialist declared.
During a contentious “60 Minutes” interview Sunday, Trump blasted Mamdani as a “communist” and boasted he’s “much better looking” than the youthful candidate as he offered a backhanded not-quite-compliment to Cuomo.
“I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you,” Trump said about Cuomo, a longtime Dem who launched an independent bid after falling short against Mamdani in a party primary.
Within hours of Mamdani’s sunrise stunt, his campaign double-downed on tying Trump with Cuomo — blasting out an email contending the president’s double-edged words amounted to a full-throated endorsement.
Mamdani spoke outside of City Hall during a press conference on Monday, where he falsely claimed that his opponent Andrew Cuomo was endorsed by Trump. William Farrington
Mamdani hugging New York AG Letitia James at his City Hall press conference. William Farrington
President Trump called Mamdani a “communist” during a “60 Minutes” interview that aired on Sunday night. CBS
Trump said he would prefer a “bad Democrat” like Cuomo to win over Mamdani, seen here with Tish James on Monday. William FarringtonCuomo, who spent Monday criss-crossing the Big Apple in a white Ford Bronco that drew unfortunate comparisons to OJ Simpson, shot back that Trump would make a meal of Mamdani and “take over” the city if the inexperienced socialist is elected.
“I’ll tell you, Donald Trump will go through him like a hot knife,” the ex-gov said during an event at a Brownsville senior center.
“He won’t even step over him. He’ll step on him.”
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaking at a rally in Washington Heights on Monday. James Keivom for New York Post
Cuomo takes a selfie with a supporter from inside a white Ford Bronco. James Keivom
Cuomo speaking at a City Hall Senior Center in Manhattan on Nov. 3, 2025. William FarringtonThe ex-governor also continued hammering Mamdani’s socialism as anathema to both the Democratic Party’s and the city’s values.
“I don’t believe New York City thrives as a socialist city. I don’t think the Democratic Party thrives, as a socialist party,” he said.
“I don’t believe Americans will accept the Democratic Party as a socialist party that supports a socialist economy — that is anti-law-and-order.”
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa lays a wreath at the site where a homeless woman, Debrina Kawam, was burned alive a year ago in Coney Island. Michael NigroGOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, for his part, also kept a tight schedule as he pressed his case that Mamdani and Cuomo would be disasters.
Sliwa stumped at a Coney Island subway station where a straphanger was horrifically burned to death last year, held rallies in Staten Island and Brooklyn and planned to close the day with an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” before returning to the subway for a patrol.
