President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off $7.4 billion in yearly federal funding to New York City – which goes against multiple Constitutional provisions as well as federal laws – if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election in November. The threat marks a direct attempt by Trump to change the outcome of the race in the nation’s largest city.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York state assemblyman and democratic socialist, is currently leading the polls after beating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary. His campaign focuses on progressive policies including rent freezes, free public transit, and higher minimum wages. The race took a new turn on Sunday when current Mayor Eric Adams dropped out, leaving Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa as the main candidates.
