AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md, on Air Force One, from a weekend trip to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla, Nov 2, 2025. (Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)04 Nov 2025 07:36AM (Updated: 04 Nov 2025 07:43AM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST WASHINGTON: Republican US President Donald Trump said on Monday (Nov 3) he will restrict federal funds for New York City if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the city's mayoral elections on Tuesday, and urged supporters to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo. If Mamdani wins the election, Trump said on Truth Social it was "highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required".Polls show Mamdani leading against Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.Trump said a vote for Sliwa would only help Mamdani and urged his supporters to back Cuomo."Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job," Trump wrote. Republicans have attacked Mamdani's candidacy throughout the campaign, with Trump casting the self-described democratic socialist as a communist.Mamdani, a Uganda-born state assembly member, shocked political observers on Jun 24 with a convincing victory in the primary.New York Mayor Eric Adams drops re-election bidNYC mayoral candidates make final push ahead of Election DayMamdani's policies include hiking taxes on New York City's wealthiest, raising the corporation tax rate, freezing stabilised apartment rental rates and increasing publicly subsidised housing. His rise presents both risks and rewards for the national Democratic Party, which acknowledges the need to appeal to young voters but is wary of Republican attacks over Mamdani's criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and his Democratic socialism, which has worried New York's finance community. Trump has used the threats of federal funding cuts throughout his second term in office over climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war in Gaza and diversity, equity and inclusion practices.Source: Reuters/fhSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST