Governor Cuomo denies having conversations about the New York City election with President Trump, yet expresses confidence that he would handle Trump effectively if he were to serve as the city's mayor.
Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, is running as an independent in the city's mayoral election. Despite receiving public support from Donald Trump, Cuomo has denied seeking the former president's help or having recent communications with him.
Trump publicly endorsed Cuomo's decision to remain in the race after losing the nomination to Zohran Mamdani, calling Cuomo someone with "a good shot of winning" against Mamdani[1]. However, Cuomo did not immediately respond to Trump's endorsement, and later, he went on the defensive, denying recent talks with Trump after The New York Times reported they had spoken recently[2].
Cuomo suggested that a Mamdani victory could lead to a federal takeover of New York City, comparing it to Trump's recent deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles and high-visibility immigration raids. He described his relationship with Trump as a "dysfunctional marriage" during a meeting with business leaders. Cuomo also described himself as having had the most contentious relationships with President Trump.
Republican Joe Borelli argued that a Mamdani victory would benefit Trump, as Cuomo would be the bogeyman in every midterm congressional ad. Borelli also pointed out that two-thirds of city voters are registered Democrats and one-fifth are Republicans.
Cuomo, on the other hand, has been courting business leaders and high-powered donors who fear Mamdani's potential mayoralty and his proposal to tax the city's wealthiest residents. He has pressed his case that he would be better suited than Mamdani to deal with Trump. Cuomo argued that he is the best candidate to fend off Trump's attacks on New York City while also saying he would work with him to benefit New York.
However, Cuomo has not reached out to Trump since a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a Pennsylvania rally last year. He also stated that he would try to work with Trump where possible, but would also be a formidable opponent. If the president were to weigh in on the race, Cuomo would decline his endorsement.
Mamdani, on the other hand, has accused Cuomo and Trump of 'conspiring'. He held a press conference in front of the federal building in Lower Manhattan, where asylum seekers and migrants are taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Mamdani dismissed concerns that his candidacy would make the city a target for the president, saying he would be willing to speak to Trump if it benefited New Yorkers.
Despite the denial, the denial was made a day after a report by The New York Times stated that Cuomo and Trump had spoken on the phone. The details of their conversation remain unclear.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/21/nyregion/cuomo-trump-new-york-city-mayor.html [2] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/22/cuomo-denies-recent-talks-with-trump-499664
- Andrew Cuomo, during a meeting with business leaders, described his relationship with Donald Trump as a "dysfunctional marriage."
- Cuomo has been courting business leaders and high-powered donors who fear Mamdani's potential mayoralty and his proposal to tax the city's wealthiest residents.
- Republican Joe Borelli suggested that a Mamdani victory would benefit Trump, as Cuomo would be the bogeyman in every midterm congressional ad.
- Cuomo has not reached out to Trump since a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a Pennsylvania rally last year.
- Migration, specifically asylum seekers and migrants, became a focus when Mamdani held a press conference in front of the federal building in Lower Manhattan.
- In the realm of sports, there has been no mention of football, whether it be American football (NFL or NCAAs), or general sports news.
- The city's mayoral election is not just about politics, but also includes issues like war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, and car-accidents.
