Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo Secretly Talked on the Phone as Trump Weighs Endorsement in N.Y.C. Mayoral Race: Report

Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo Engage in Secret Talks About N.Y.C. Mayoral Race

In recent news, President Donald Trump has been reported to be actively involved in researching the upcoming New York City mayoral race, as per a new report from The New York Times. The report states that Trump has reached out to a Republican congressman and various New York businessmen for insights and opinions on which candidate stands the best chance against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. Among the candidates are Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, incumbent Eric Adams, and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. While Adams has declared his intent to run for re-election as an independent, Cuomo is pursuing an independent campaign after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.

According to The New York Times, pollster Mark Penn and former New York City Council president Andrew Stein have both briefed Trump, expressing their endorsement of Cuomo as the optimal choice. The report also mentions that Trump had a clandestine phone conversation with Cuomo in recent weeks, although it remains unclear who initiated the call and the specifics of their discussion. Despite their complex political past, Trump may be contemplating extending his endorsement to Cuomo, viewing him as a strong competitor against Mamdani.

In response to these claims, Andrew Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, refuted the notion that Cuomo and Trump had discussed the mayoral race, stating that they had not engaged in any recent conversations. The dynamics between Trump and Cuomo have been strained, with Trump’s Department of Justice previously launching an investigation into Cuomo’s testimony regarding New York nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo retaliated in an interview with Politico, highlighting his plan to tackle the Trump administration’s Medicaid cuts if elected as the mayor of New York City.

Conversations surrounding Cuomo’s potential mayoral win have sparked speculation about his larger political ambitions, as some suggest that his mayoral run might be a strategic stepping stone towards a Democratic nomination in the 2028 presidential race. Despite the uncertainties, Cuomo remains resolute in his stance, anticipating rigorous scrutiny from the Trump administration post-election. As stated by Cuomo, any individual assuming the mayoral position should brace themselves for intense investigations, particularly if they oppose Trump, characterizing it as the “price of admission.”

Given the significant federal funding that New York City receives annually, the outcome of the mayoral race holds substantial implications, not only for the city but also for its relationship with Washington D.C. As Trump nears the end of his term, his involvement in local races continues to be closely monitored, with potential ramifications for the future political landscape. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.