President Donald Trump is moving aggressively to stop Democrat socialist nominee Zohran Mamdani from becoming the next mayor of New York City.
Trump is urging two of Mamdani’s rival candidates to step aside to set up a one-on-one shot at the far-left lawmaker.
“I don’t think you can win unless you have one-on-one,” Trump told reporters Thursday night before a White House dinner with top tech executives.
Mamdani, 33, a Ugandan-born state assemblyman from Queens, stunned Democrats in June when he crushed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine others in the Democratic Party primary.
He is now the party’s official nominee, despite a long history of communist sympathies and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
A November victory would make him both the city’s first Muslim mayor and its first millennial leader.
The socialist lawmaker has built his campaign on a slate of far-left proposals, including free bus fares, free tuition at CUNY, government-run grocery stores, communal homes, and taxpayer-funded childcare.
His campaign has leaned heavily on TikTok and grassroots organizing, drawing support from progressive stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Cuomo, still dogged by the scandals that drove him out of Albany in 2021, is running as an independent.
Embattled Mayor Eric Adams has also bypassed the Democrat primary to run as an independent, despite plummeting approval ratings.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is on the ballot as the Republican nominee.
But Mamdani remains the frontrunner in deep-blue New York.
Trump, a Queens native, made clear he believes multiple challengers will only divide the opposition.
“I’d prefer not to have a communist mayor of New York City,” Trump said.
“And, you know, that’s what he is based on his policy.
“If you look at his statements in the past.”
According to reports, Trump’s advisors have been working behind the scenes to convince Adams and Sliwa to step aside, possibly dangling roles in the Trump administration.
Both the New York Times and the New York Post reported that Adams met in Florida this week with Trump advisor Steve Witkoff, fueling speculation that he might abandon his campaign.
Adams, however, insists he’s staying put.
“Not dropping out,” his campaign spokesman told Fox News.
On Friday, the mayor doubled down, saying:
“I am still running for re-election.”
However, he did not deny being open to a federal role if offered.
Sliwa has been equally defiant.
“I’m not dropping out,” he said, stressing he has no interest in serving in Trump’s administration.
“I’m a major party candidate.
“Let the independents play musical chairs.”
Cuomo, for his part, is calling for five debates with Mamdani, one in each borough.
He accused the socialist of dodging tough questions.
“When you try to ask [Mamdani] a question, he will simply not answer, and he obfuscates,” Cuomo said.
“I won’t let him get away with it.
“And New Yorkers won’t let him get away with it.”
Mamdani dismissed Cuomo’s challenge and instead taunted Trump directly.
“Why should I debate Donald Trump’s puppet when I could debate Donald Trump himself?” his campaign said.
The Mamdani campaign also announced Friday that it had already maxed out New York City’s $8 million fundraising cap, a sign of its organizational strength.
It comes even as critics warn his radical agenda would push the city deeper into financial and social crisis.
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.