In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through New York’s political landscape, President Donald Trump on Monday, September 15, 2025, threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City if Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor. The threat came just hours after Governor Kathy Hochul, a centrist Democrat, publicly endorsed Mamdani in a widely discussed op-ed for The New York Times—a move that has only heightened tensions in an already fraught mayoral race.
Trump’s warning was blunt and unmistakable. Posting on Truth Social, the president wrote, “Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed the ‘Liddle Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York. This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City. How can such a thing happen?” He continued, “Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!” According to The New York Post, the president’s remarks were widely interpreted as a direct threat to cut off federal funds if the city’s voters select Mamdani in the upcoming general election.
Hochul’s endorsement, revealed Sunday evening and published in a guest essay for The New York Times on September 14, marked a significant shift in the race. For months, the governor had resisted calls from progressives to back her party’s nominee, but she ultimately described her decision as the result of “frank conversations” with Mamdani. “In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” Hochul wrote. “But in our conversations, I heard 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. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable—a goal I enthusiastically support.”
Hochul’s op-ed went further, emphasizing the urgency of combating antisemitism and fostering unity. She stated, “We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.” The governor also took direct aim at Trump’s approach to governing, writing, “Mr. Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda—with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York. And we must never allow Mr. Trump to control our city like the king he wants to be. Anyone who accepts his tainted influence or benefits from it is compromised from the start.”
For Mamdani, the endorsement was a major political victory. The 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens, who clinched the Democratic nomination in June by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo by 12 points, has struggled to win over the party establishment. As of mid-September, key Democratic figures—including State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer—had yet to endorse him. Hochul’s support may provide the momentum needed to consolidate the party ahead of the general election on November 4, with early voting set to begin October 25.
Mamdani responded with gratitude, saying, “I’m grateful for the Governor's support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together. Our movement is only growing stronger.”
Trump’s attacks on Mamdani have been relentless and personal. The president has repeatedly labeled Mamdani a “communist” and, earlier this year, accused him of being in the country illegally—a claim that has been widely debunked. In July, Trump even threatened to arrest Mamdani if he defied ICE directives. Yet, as Politifact reported, the “communist” label is not supported by the facts. Mamdani’s platform—featuring policies such as fare-free buses, subsidized daycare, rent control protections, and city-owned grocery stores—has been described by Politifact as “not akin to communism, a system in which the government seizes and retains complete and total control over private property and industry.” Instead, the fact-checking outlet called the accusation a “red scare tactic that has existed in U.S. politics for decades.”
The president’s latest threat has sparked outrage among progressives and democracy advocates. Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of the Campaign for New York Health, condemned Trump’s remarks, stating, “Donald Trump is threatening to withhold money from NYC if they elect Zohran Mamdani, who [is] standing up to his billionaire donor buddies, instead of his friend Andrew Cuomo who will roll over for them.” Another organizer called Trump’s approach “using taxpayer money as a gun to voters’ heads.”
Critics say Trump’s threat is part of a broader pattern of using federal authority to pressure local governments and voters. According to Common Dreams, Trump previously threatened New York City’s funding in June and suggested in July that his administration could take over the city’s government if Mamdani wins and enacts policies Trump opposes. On Fox News, Trump declared, “If he does get in, I’m gonna be president and he’s gonna have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money. He’s gotta do the right thing. If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same... We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to.”
The political establishment, however, remains divided. Despite Mamdani’s decisive primary victory and growing grassroots support—particularly among young, Asian, and Hispanic voters—some leading Democrats have hesitated to back him. As The New Republic noted, this reluctance has drawn sharp criticism from progressive lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Chris Van Hollen, who argue that party unity is essential to counter Trump’s threats and advance a progressive agenda in New York City.
Meanwhile, Trump’s own record on affordability has come under scrutiny. While the president campaigned on lowering costs for Americans, his administration has pushed spending bills projected to increase the number of uninsured people and ended programs designed to make student debt more manageable. Mamdani, by contrast, has offered detailed proposals to address affordability, including universal childcare and a network of city-owned grocery stores.
With the general election approaching, the stakes for New York City could hardly be higher. Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding is unprecedented in its directness, raising fundamental questions about the balance of power between the federal government and local democracy. As New Yorkers prepare to head to the polls, the city’s future—and its relationship with Washington—hangs in the balance.
For now, all eyes are on November 4. The outcome will not only determine the city’s next mayor but could also set the tone for the nation’s political climate in the months and years to come.
