Despite some pushback, Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign indicated on Tuesday that they aren’t expecting any support from Donald Trump or others in the upcoming race for Gracie Mansion.
In a recent statement, Cuomo’s camp mentioned their hope that Trump would encourage Republicans to back Cuomo instead of Curtis Sliwa in the November election. In an audio clip, Cuomo criticized Sliwa, suggesting he wouldn’t be a “serious candidate,” and implied Trump might say “you’ll vote for Sliwa.”
Rich Atzpaldi, a senior advisor to Cuomo, suggested that he was puzzled as to how the race might shape into a two-person contest.
Interestingly, Trump remarked that Cuomo has a “good shot” in overcoming Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral race.
Cuomo’s campaign has emphasized that the only way the former governor can best Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, is by having a solid strategy. As the campaign heats up, Cuomo is less inclined to align closely with Trump, given the backlash that followed his defeat in the Democratic primary.
Conversely, Sliwa distanced himself from Trump, claiming that the former president’s involvement would do more harm than good. He characterized Cuomo’s campaign as “confusing” and noted that “desperate people do desperate things.”
Sliwa’s jab at Cuomo included a suggestion that if he ever left the Hamptons, he’d recognize the repercussions of his policies on New Yorkers, criticizing Cuomo for his banking regulations and COVID-19 management.
During a recent fundraiser in the Hamptons, Cuomo stated that he did not discuss Trump with Andrew Stein, who co-hosted the event. Cuomo did indicate familiarity with Trump, pointing out, “I knew the president very well.”
Mamdani, for his part, is actively campaigning against Trump, demonstrating in various districts to draw attention to how Cuomo has been linked to the former president. The Mamdani campaign even released a statement pointing out Cuomo’s reluctance to address his ties with Trump and calling it a sign of fear.
In response, Cuomo’s campaign dismissed the accusations as “silly,” suggesting that Mamdani is trying to deflect attention away from his own record.
Mamdani insists that if elected, he’d pose a significant challenge to Trump, whom he labels a “100% Communist Madman.” On the national front, the White House has downplayed any potential for Trump’s involvement in the mayoral race, asserting he has no plans to support any candidates.
Though Cuomo lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani, he’s decided to continue running as an independent. Early in the race, Cuomo had emphasized the need for a strong candidate to take on Trump, drawing attention to issues stirred up by the former president’s policies.
As the campaign evolves, references to Trump by Cuomo seem to be lessening, perhaps in light of his shift to running as an independent candidate while also trying to navigate his own political future. Meanwhile, the current mayor, Eric Adams, has created a somewhat complex relationship with Trump, admitting he assisted in clearing corruption charges against him earlier this year.
