Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) campaigned with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, slamming both President Trump and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“New York has always stood up to bullies and defended what’s right, even when it’s difficult, which is why we were so shocked to learn that Andrew Cuomo called Donald Trump for advice after the Democratic primary,” Nadler said at a press conference alongside Mamdani. “This betrayal shows exactly what we’re up against: politicians willing to legitimize our city’s greatest threat for their personal benefit. The truth is, Cuomo and Trump are very similar.”
“Both use their power to serve themselves and their wealthy donors, not the people. If it weren’t clear before, it should be now. Donald Trump is no friend to our city, and neither is Andrew Cuomo. This is why the choice for New York City’s next mayor is so critical,” he added.
Mamdani recently heavily criticized reported moves by Trump regarding the New York City mayoral race.
“Today we learned Andrew Cuomo is directly coordinating with Donald Trump, even as this President sends masked agents to rip our neighbors off the streets and guts the social services so many New Yorkers rely on,” Mamdani said in a Wednesday post on the social platform X.
“It’s disqualifying and a betrayal of our city,” he added.
The New York Times reported last week that eight sources said the president talked in private about stepping into the race in an attempt to stop Mamdani from winning the November election.
According to the Times, a Republican congressman and New York businessmen have been recently pressed by the president about which of Mamdani’s rivals they believe could win against the Democratic nominee.
Trump and Cuomo, who is also a candidate for New York City mayor, discussed the race in a phone call within the last few weeks, the Times also reported.
During a press conference last week, Cuomo said he couldn’t “remember the last time I spoke to President Trump,” adding that he has “never spoken to him about the mayor’s race.”
When reached for comment, Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi noted comments from Trump about talking to Cuomo.
“I haven’t, no I haven’t,” Trump responded last Wednesday during an Oval Office announcement when asked if he had talked “to Andrew Cuomo.”
In response to Nadler, Azzopardi said that Cuomo “passed a $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, free public college tuition for the middle class and more rights, reforms and protections for New Yorkers than any other governor.”
“And yes, I’m directing this at you, congressman, when Washington, under both Democratic and Republican presidents and legislative majorities failed to protect Americans from the scourge — from the scourge of mass shootings and gun violence, Andrew Cuomo passed the most comprehensive gun violence protection laws in the nation,” he added.
Updated at 8:12 p.m. EDT
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