In a dramatic turn for New York City’s already heated 2025 mayoral race, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has unleashed pointed criticism at President Donald Trump and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, accusing them of behind-the-scenes maneuvering to sway the outcome of the November election. The controversy, which erupted on August 6, 2025, has cast a spotlight on the tangled relationships and rivalries that define the city’s political landscape—where power, personality, and history collide in unpredictable ways.
According to The New York Times, President Trump has expressed a keen interest in the race for his hometown’s highest office. Citing eight sources, the paper reported that Trump has privately discussed intervening to stop Mamdani from clinching victory in the fall. Trump, a Queens native and real estate mogul-turned-president, has reportedly pressed a Republican congressman and several New York businessmen in recent weeks on which of Mamdani’s rivals might have the best shot at defeating the progressive Assemblyman.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Times also revealed that Trump and Andrew Cuomo—himself a storied figure in New York politics—spoke by phone about the race within the last few weeks. While the content and initiator of the call remain unclear, the mere suggestion of coordination between the two men has sent ripples through the city’s political circles.
Mamdani, who has positioned himself as a champion of social services and a critic of establishment politics, wasted no time responding. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 6, he declared, “Today we learned Andrew Cuomo is directly coordinating with Donald Trump, even as this President sends masked agents to rip our neighbors off the streets and guts the social services so many New Yorkers rely on. It’s disqualifying and a betrayal of our city.”
He doubled down in a video clip accompanying his post, lambasting Trump for what he called “conspiring” with Cuomo and candidates who, in his words, “have decided to give up the people that they are supposed to protect, in lieu of securing power through the assistance of that same administration in Washington, D.C.” The charge is a serious one: that Cuomo, once a standard-bearer for Democrats, is now seeking advantage through backchannel dealings with a Republican president reviled by many in New York’s liberal circles.
Cuomo, for his part, has flatly denied the allegations. Speaking at a press conference on August 7, the former governor insisted, “I can’t remember the last time I spoke to President Trump,” and added, “I have never spoken to him about the mayor’s race.” It’s a carefully worded denial, and one that leaves some room for interpretation—especially given the long and complicated history between the two men.
That history is, by any measure, unique. Both Trump and Cuomo were born and raised in Queens, and both have left indelible marks on the city’s political and business worlds. Trump’s rise from real estate scion to reality TV star to president has always been intertwined with New York’s cutthroat ethos, while Cuomo’s path through government has been marked by fierce ambition, high-profile victories, and no shortage of controversy.
Their relationship, as The New York Times noted, has been likened by Cuomo himself to a “dysfunctional marriage”—full of ups and downs, alliances and feuds, and a mutual understanding of the city’s rough-and-tumble style. While Trump has publicly stated that Mamdani’s election “would be a disaster for the city” and urged Cuomo to remain in the race, the possibility of a direct alliance between the two is both tantalizing and troubling for observers across the political spectrum.
Cuomo’s own position in the race is unusual. After losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he has chosen to run as an independent in the general election—a move that has drawn both criticism and curiosity. Some see it as a last-ditch effort to reclaim relevance; others argue it could split the anti-Trump vote, potentially handing the race to a Republican or to a candidate less aligned with progressive values. For his part, Cuomo has brushed off such speculation, insisting that his candidacy is about offering New Yorkers a pragmatic alternative in turbulent times.
Meanwhile, Mamdani’s campaign has seized on the controversy to energize supporters and draw a sharp contrast with his rivals. The Assemblyman, known for his advocacy on housing, transit, and social justice, has framed the reported Trump-Cuomo connection as emblematic of “old guard” politics—where power brokers operate behind closed doors, far from the scrutiny of ordinary voters. “It is Donald Trump himself who has been directly conspiring with candidates who have decided to give up the people that they are supposed to protect, in lieu of securing power through the assistance of that same administration in Washington, D.C.,” Mamdani said in his video message, according to The Hill.
The city’s political establishment is watching closely. For some, the notion of Trump meddling in New York’s mayoral race is both unsurprising and deeply unsettling. The former president’s polarizing legacy continues to shape local and national politics, and his willingness to intervene in city affairs—especially in a contest featuring longtime adversaries and allies—underscores his ongoing influence. For others, the focus on backroom deals and personality clashes is a distraction from the real issues at stake: housing, public safety, economic recovery, and the future of social services in a city still reeling from the aftershocks of the pandemic.
As the general election approaches, the stakes could not be higher. With Cuomo running as an independent, Mamdani as the Democratic standard-bearer, and the specter of Trump looming over the contest, voters face a choice that goes beyond party labels or personal grudges. The outcome will not only determine the direction of City Hall but could also send a powerful message about the kind of politics New Yorkers want: transparent and accountable, or transactional and opaque.
What happens next is anyone’s guess. Will Cuomo’s denial of coordination with Trump be enough to quell suspicions? Can Mamdani maintain his momentum in the face of establishment resistance? And will Trump’s behind-the-scenes involvement tip the scales—or backfire, galvanizing opposition and uniting disparate factions against outside interference?
One thing is certain: in a city where politics is always personal and nothing stays secret for long, the 2025 mayoral race is shaping up to be one for the history books. As the candidates trade barbs and accusations, New Yorkers are left to decide whose vision—and whose alliances—they trust to carry the city forward.
