President Donald Trump made headlines again after weighing in on the upcoming New York City mayoral race — and his comments were anything but subtle. During an interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes, Trump was asked about Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is leading in the polls.
Some people have compared Mamdani to Trump, describing him as a “left-wing version” of the former president — charismatic and unafraid to break the rules. When O’Donnell brought that up, Trump couldn’t resist making it personal.
“Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person than him, right?” Trump joked, turning the comparison into a dig.
He then shifted tone and criticized Mamdani harshly, calling him a “communist” and warning that his election could spell trouble for New York City. Trump even hinted that he might withhold federal funding if Mamdani wins, saying, “It’s gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York. Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
The former New York resident didn’t stop there. He took another swipe at former Mayor Bill de Blasio, calling him “the worst mayor we’ve ever had,” but added that Mamdani “will make de Blasio look like one of our great mayors.”
Trump, who lived in New York City for most of his life before moving to Florida, also revealed that if he still lived there, he’d cast his vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo — despite their rocky history.
“I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other,” Trump said. “But if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time.”
Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 following multiple sexual harassment allegations, is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.
Trump’s remarks quickly drew attention online, with many calling it a “backhanded endorsement” — supporting Cuomo not because he likes him, but because he dislikes Mamdani even more. Others saw it as another example of Trump inserting himself into major political races and using his signature mix of humor and provocation to make headlines.
The 60 Minutes interview once again showed Trump’s ability to turn serious political questions into viral moments — this time, mixing his trademark insults with a warning that a Mamdani-led New York could lose federal support if he’s elected.
