President Donald Trump has taken aim at New York Governor Kathy Hochul following her endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist leading the polls in the New York City mayoral race.
Hochul made her endorsement public in an op-ed for the New York Times on Sunday, a decision that followed months of anticipation after Mamdani’s decisive win in the Democratic primary.
In her article, Hochul acknowledged their differences but emphasized her belief that Mamdani is a “leader” dedicated to creating a safe environment for children and making New York City affordable, which she wholeheartedly supports.
Yet, she also stressed the need for the NYPD to be fully equipped to ensure public safety, a nod to Mamdani’s past support for the defund the police movement during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Moreover, Hochul insisted that New York must remain a hub of global commerce, indirectly responding to Mamdani’s suggestions for increased corporate taxes that could deter businesses.
Hochul concluded her piece by underscoring the necessity of having a strong mayor who could resist Trump’s influence, stating that anyone benefiting from it is already compromised.
Trump’s response to Hochul’s endorsement came swiftly, hinting that he might reconsider federal funding to New York.
“Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has endorsed the ‘Liddle’ Communist, Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York. This is quite a surprising and negative development for the city. How could this happen?” Trump remarked.
He added, “Washington will be observing this closely. No justification for wasting good money.”
Hochul’s endorsement is seen as a significant turn in the mayoral race, likely putting pressure on other prominent New York Democrats yet to back Mamdani, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Mamdani, positioned as the frontrunner, expressed gratitude to Hochul for her support in uniting the party and acknowledged her efforts in standing up to Trump, securing free lunches for kids, and enhancing childcare access.
