President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from New York after Governor Kathy Hochul announced her shocking endorsement for Zohran Mandani in the mayoral race. “Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed the “Liddle’ Communist,” Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York,” the president wrote online. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City,” Trump wrote in an early morning post on Truth Social. “How can such a thing happen?” Trump said, adding, “Washington will be watching this situation very closely.Kathy Hochul announced her decision to endorse Mamdani in an opinion piece for New York Times where she explained that her decision stemmed from her convesations with him.
“In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements. But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support,” Hochul wrote.“We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.”“Mr Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda — with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York. And we must never allow Mr. Trump to control our city like the king he wants to be. Anyone who accepts his tainted influence or benefits from it is compromised from the start.”“Some will say Mr Mamdani and I are unlikely allies: a mom governor from Buffalo and a 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens. To me, that’s the beauty of this moment. What New Yorkers deserve right now is not grievances or grudges, but steely resolve to fight like hell. Mr Mamdani and I don’t see eye to eye on everything, and I don’t expect us to. I will always reserve the right to disagree honestly and to argue passionately. But I also believe that New York State and New York City are at our best when we stand together against those who attempt to tear us apart,” she wrote. Mamdani thanked Hochul for the endorsement and for her resolve in standing up to Trump. “I’m grateful for the Governor’s support in unifying our party, her resolve in standing up to Trump, and her focus on making New York affordable. I look forward to the great work we will accomplish together. Our movement is only growing stronger,” Mamdani responded.
