New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is joined by Attorney General Letitia James, marching across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"Because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there," Trump added.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI VOWS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP'S THREAT TO WITHHOLD FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NYC
The president has criticized Mamdani's mayoral campaign since the self-described democratic socialist defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June. Trump refers to Mamdani as a "100% Communist Lunatic" or "my little communist" — a moniker Mamdani rejects.
This summer, after securing the Democratic Party's nomination, Mamdani hosted a week-long "Five Boroughs Against Trump" campaign throughout New York City.
"I'm not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I'm going to pick that bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you," Trump said on "60 Minutes."
Mamdani on Monday referenced Trump's aforementioned comments as an endorsement of Cuomo. Trump has refused to endorse Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who is also on the ballot.
"Late last night, Andrew Cuomo received Donald Trump's endorsement," Mamdani claimed. "If elected as mayor, our city will only descend deeper into a darkness that has forced too many of our neighbors to flee and made it impossible for working people to live lives of dignity."
When reached for comment, Cuomo campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told Fox News Digital that Mamdani is "lying" about Trump endorsing the former governor.
President Donald Trump looks on as he speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Nov. 2, 2025. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)
James filed the lawsuit against The Trump Organization in 2019, which found Trump and his company liable for civil fraud last year. She has also filed multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration this year, rejecting his executive orders and seeking to unleash federal funding.
"Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect," Mamdani said Monday.
As Mamdani heads into Election Day, the democratic socialist is positioning himself as the candidate best equipped to challenge Trump, while attempting to connect Cuomo to the president.
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"We have long known that Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump's puppet in this race. What we did not quite expect is for him to become his parrot in the final days, as well," Mamdani said.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-vows-defy-trump-fiery-final-march-from-brooklyn-bridge-city-hall-ahead-election-day