Trump Discusses New York Mayoral Race on CBS
In a recent interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” former President Donald Trump offered his perspective on the New York mayoral contest.
During the conversation with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, a variety of topics were covered, such as the ongoing government shutdown, immigration enforcement, and international tariffs. O’Donnell also brought up the upcoming mayoral election set for Tuesday.
“Zoran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist. He’s the front-runner—” O’Donnell began, only to be interrupted by Trump, who asserted, “He’s a communist, not a socialist. He’s much worse than a socialist.”
Mamdani Responds to Federal Funding Concerns
Mamdani has pledged to counter Trump’s remarks regarding federal funding for New York City.
O’Donnell posed a question about comparisons being made between Mamdani and Trump, suggesting that some see Mamdani as a “charismatic left-wing” figure. Trump quipped back, saying, “Well, I think I’m a much better-looking guy than he is, right?”
When pressed about the implications of Mamdani winning, Trump expressed skepticism about supporting New York financially. “As president, it would be difficult for me to donate a large amount of money to New York,” he stated. “If the communists are running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there. So, if it’s going to be a fight between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’ll be honest with you, I’ll pick the bad Democrat any day.”
Mamdani’s Campaign Gains Momentum
Interestingly, Trump previously chose not to endorse any candidates in the race, including Republican Curtis Sliwa. Still, he mentioned he would be open to dialogue with Mamdani should he win. “Yes, I’ll talk to him,” Trump confirmed. “I think I have a duty to talk to him.”
Currently, Mamdani is leading his nearest rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, by at least ten points.
Trump’s Return to CBS After Controversial Interview
This interview marked Trump’s first CBS appearance since his settlement with Paramount related to an edited interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 elections.
Last month, Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement but denied any wrongdoing in their journalistic practices. Sources indicated that CBS will enhance its editorial standards going forward.
Trump’s previous encounter on “60 Minutes” in October 2020 ended abruptly when he deemed the interview hostile after being interrupted several times. Since then, he has remained reticent about public appearances leading up to the 2024 election, insisting he won’t return unless he receives an apology.
