President Donald Trump has reportedly told close allies that he believes progressive Democrat Zohran Mamdani is unbeatable in the New York City mayor’s race. According to The Wall Street Journal, a senior White House official said Trump and his advisers view the 34-year-old Queens assemblyman as likely to defeat independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 4 election. Sources noted that Mamdani’s “commanding lead” in recent polls is seen as virtually insurmountable. Trump has expressed skepticism that Sliwa dropping out would improve Cuomo’s chances, despite pressure from figures including Eric Trump, Bill Ackman, and John Catsimatidis. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “It’s really a question of would I rather have a Democrat or a communist? And I would rather have a Democrat than a communist.”
Sliwa has rejected calls to end his campaign, warning that any attempt to bribe him to quit would be reported to New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump, a native New Yorker whose company remains headquartered in Manhattan, has privately acknowledged that a Mamdani victory could threaten his business interests. Mamdani has pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund an “affordability agenda,” including housing and public transit subsidies. Last month, Trump threatened to cut federal funds to New York City if Mamdani won, and he later canceled $18 billion in planned infrastructure funding, blaming the ongoing government shutdown.
The three candidates—Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa—faced off in a final televised debate Wednesday night. Mamdani called Cuomo “a desperate man” clinging to power, while Cuomo criticized Mamdani as “too divisive” and questioned his legislative record. Trump has previously called Mamdani a “Communist Lunatic” and suggested he might use federal powers to intervene in city affairs, including ICE enforcement. Mamdani’s Democratic primary victory in June has raised concerns among Republicans and others, as the 33-year-old’s rise from relative obscurity symbolizes a changing political landscape. His campaign plan has drawn scrutiny for proposing to shift the city’s tax burden from wealthy, predominantly White neighborhoods to Black, Latino, and immigrant communities in outer boroughs, highlighting ongoing debates over equity and housing policy in New York City.
