President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, urging voters to turn away from leading progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani.

"Regardless of your personal opinion of Andrew Cuomo, there's really no option here. He needs your vote, and we can only hope he leads effectively," Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday night. "He has the ability—Mamdani does not!"

Trump had previously suggested he would consider limiting federal financial aid to New York City to the bare minimum if Mamdani were to be elected.

These concerns echoed statements made during a TV interview Sunday, where Trump referred to Mamdani as a communist—a description Mamdani denies.

"It will be difficult for me to justify significant federal support for New York," Trump explained. "With a communist leading the city, that spending would just go to waste."

In response, Mamdani dismissed Trump’s remarks, describing them as a clear threat. "That’s what it is—a threat—not a rule," he stated.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, rejects the communist label. In a recent interview, he compared his politics to Scandinavian governance, joking that he’s just “a little more brown.”

Trump's administration has often attempted to reduce federal grants for initiatives in Democrat-led regions. For the current fiscal year, New York City received $7.4 billion in federal funds.

Independent candidate Cuomo, formerly a Democrat and frequent Trump critic, responded to Trump's statement by clarifying: "This isn't an endorsement—he’s just rejecting Mamdani."

Polls currently show Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, in the lead. Cuomo, who is now running independently after losing in the Democratic primary, is trailing slightly. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa remains further behind.

Despite sharing a party affiliation, Trump did not back Sliwa in his Truth Social post. Instead, he warned, "A vote for Curtis Sliwa is effectively a vote for Mamdani."

In response, Mamdani said the support for Cuomo from Trump and his allies reflects the belief that Cuomo would better align with Trump’s goals.

"Trump isn't picking the best mayor for New York or its people. He’s choosing someone who will work in his favor," Mamdani stated.

During a wide-ranging interview on CBS's '60 Minutes,' Trump claimed Mamdani would make former Mayor Bill de Blasio "look good" in comparison.

"I saw how poorly de Blasio managed the city, and this guy would be even worse," Trump said.

Though Trump was raised in Queens and still owns property in New York, he voiced a pragmatic stance: "I'm not particularly fond of Cuomo, but if it’s between a flawed Democrat and a communist, I’ll choose the Democrat every time."

If elected, Mamdani would become New York City's first Muslim mayor and the youngest leader in over a century at just 34 years old.

Mamdani, a current state assemblyman, has painted Cuomo as a mere extension of Trump’s influence, calling him a "puppet and parrot."

"The answer to a Trump presidency isn’t to recreate it in our city," Mamdani said on Monday. "What our residents need is real change—rooted in compassion and shared dignity."

Cuomo has responded by highlighting his experience, claiming only he can navigate the city's relationship with the Trump administration effectively.

Cuomo was governor during the pandemic, often clashing with the federal government. However, he later faced criticism when investigations revealed the state undercounted nursing home deaths during the crisis.

"I went head-to-head with Donald Trump," Cuomo said during a recent mayoral debate. "And I won’t back down when it comes to defending New York."

During his presidency, Trump deployed National Guard troops to Democrat-led cities and worked to reduce funding to cities limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.