President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race, urging voters to rally behind the independent candidate instead of the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa. The unexpected endorsement came just few hours before New Yorkers head to the polls.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump warned that a victory by Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani would spell disaster for the city’s economy and safety. “It is my obligation to run the nation, and it is my strong conviction that New York City will be a complete and total economic and social disaster should Mamdani win,” the president wrote.

Trump also accused Mamdani of embracing failed ideologies. “His principles have been tested for over a thousand years, and never once have they been successful,” he added. “I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a record of success, WIN, than a communist with no experience and a record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE.”

The president went further, warning he may withhold federal support if Mamdani takes office. “If communist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election for mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds, other than the very minimum required, to my beloved first home,” Trump stated.

Trump said he believes voting for Sliwa could divide opposition to Mamdani, declaring, “We must remember this – a vote for Curtis Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani. 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. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”

Cuomo, responding to reporters Monday night, distanced himself from Trump’s message. “He’s not endorsing me, he’s opposing Mamdani,” Cuomo said.

Meanwhile, Mamdani criticized both Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who also endorsed Cuomo earlier that day. “The reason that the president of the United States of America, the reason that one of the wealthiest men in the world are both trying to get involved at the last minute,” Mamdani said, “is that they know we will accomplish everything we have run on.”

The endorsement has shaken up what was already one of the most closely watched local races in the country, with national attention now centered on how Trump’s involvement might influence voter turnout.