New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa publicly asked President Donald Trump not to intervene in the city’s mayoral race.
Trump has taken a personal interest in the race as a native New Yorker, and hinted that he could take a more direct role to prevent the Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani from winning. In an appearance on Politics Unusual on Fox 5, Sliwa said he has a “love-hate relationship” with Trump, but that he shouldn’t get involved in the race.
“I would just say to the president, spend your time where it’s needed more, on geopolitical interests that affect all Americans. This election in New York City does not affect all Americans,” he said.
The race is currently split four ways between Sliwa, Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who lost the Democratic primary but is running anyway, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Opponents of Mamdani want the other three to choose one among themselves to run in order to prevent a Mamdani victory, but none have said they would.
The Trump administration is friendly with Adams, but has distanced itself from him after dismal polling numbers. A recent New York Times report alleged that Trump had called Cuomo in recent weeks, and is currently surveying who to support in the race.
Politics Unusual host Morgan McKay asked Sliwa about the call, after he said Trump hadn’t called him.
“When you heard this news, did you believe it? Were you kind of hurt a little bit that he maybe called Cuomo and not you? Would you wish he would have called you?” McKay asked.
“No, come on, let’s face it. Cuomo’s been talking to Trump for years. They grew up together, side by side. Fred, the patriarch of the Trump family, supported Mario Cuomo. I get that,” Sliwa answered.
Any intervention from Trump, Sliwa argued, could only benefit Mamdani. He pointed out that the president’s nationwide support doesn’t translate into support in the blue bastion.
“In this situation, it doesn’t help if he intervenes in New York City,” he said. “Every day it’s Trump versus Zohran Mamdani, it’s a good day for Zohran Mamdani. Every day that Cuomo and Adams talks about you, ‘You drop out, you drop out,’ it’s a good day for Zohran Mamdani. I talk the issues.”
Mamdani has sought to present himself as a resistance hero against Trump, boosting his progressive credentials. He carried on this image, responding to the reported Trump-Cuomo call this week, hitting Cuomo for his relationship with Trump.
MAMDANI SLAMS TRUMP’S INVOLVEMENT IN NYC MAYORAL RACE AS PRESIDENT REPORTEDLY PONDERS GOING FURTHER
“The job of mayor is not to audition to be the jester for a want-to-be king,” Mamdani said. “It is to be the person who stands up for the values of this city, the fabric of this city, and the people of this city.”
However, he didn’t rule out speaking with Trump if it was on a mutually beneficial issue that required federal assistance.