Trump Indicates ‘Surprising’ Mamdani Support from Kathy Hochul Might Have Implications

Trump Criticizes New York Governor for Supporting Socialist Mayoral Candidate

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump expressed strong criticism toward New York Governor Kathy Hochul, voicing his support for Zoran Mamdani, a socialist candidate for the mayoralty of New York City.

Recent polling indicates that Mamdani holds a significant lead over both the current Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, as well as former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Hochul, after some delay, has finally shown her support for Mamdani, who is currently serving as a member of the New York State Assembly.

Trump took to his social media platform to comment, stating, “New York Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Zoran Mamdani, a radical communist running for New York City Mayor. This is quite concerning and problematic for the city.” He later added that Washington is closely monitoring the situation.

The President further remarked, “There’s no reason to send bad money,” hinting at potential federal funding being withheld from New York as a consequence.

Interestingly, Hochul mentioned in a recent op-ed in the New York Times that she had an open discussion with Mamdani, acknowledging their differing views but highlighting a shared commitment to ensuring a safe environment for children in their neighborhoods. She expressed the need for a mayor who wouldn’t yield to Trump’s policies, despite not agreeing with all of Mamdani’s positions.

If he wins in November, Mamdani has vowed to raise the minimum wage to $30 and to establish a taxpayer-funded program that includes government-operated grocery stores, alongside increasing taxes in what he terms a “richer and whiter” area. While previously, he had called for the defunding of the New York City Police Department, he has since softened that stance.

However, not all Democrats are rallying behind Mamdani. Some, like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have not endorsed him yet. Others, such as New York State Representative Laura Gillen, have criticized his proposals as overly ambitious and financially burdensome.