New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani highlighted former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s perceived reluctance to confront President Donald Trump during a recent debate, arguing that this stance could endanger the city as the president continues to target urban areas in blue states.
Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, had previously stated, “I will fight you every step of the way if you try to hurt New York.” In response, Mamdani criticized Cuomo for not directly naming Trump in a statement following the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which he said reflected a lack of courage.
Mamdani pointed to Cuomo’s initial statement, which avoided mentioning either the president or the attorney general, and instead focused on broader concerns about the politicization of the justice system. Later, Cuomo did name both Trump and James in a revised statement but refused to condemn the president when asked by a reporter whether he would do so for targeting James.
Mamdani accused Cuomo of failing to speak clearly about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, labeling him a “puppet” of the former president. The exchange occurred against the backdrop of increased federal law enforcement activity in cities like Chicago and Portland, where Trump has made unsubstantiated claims about crime and unrest, allegations that have been widely disputed.
Trump has also threatened to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities, a move that both Mamdani and Cuomo opposed during the debate. Mamdani warned that if Trump were to attack New York City, he would face resistance from the next mayor. He also noted Trump’s threats to cut federal funding from the city if he wins the election.
Additionally, reports suggest that Trump may have spoken with Cuomo about the race, though both have denied the call took place.
Mamdani also referenced Cuomo’s past comments on Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, particularly his remarks about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Los Angeles. He argued that Cuomo’s approach to such issues reflected an unwillingness to stand up to authoritarianism, citing his own involvement in confronting Trump’s border policies.
He further described recent incidents at the city’s immigration court, where federal officers have detained asylum seekers and clashed with immigrant advocates, calling for stronger legal representation and greater resistance to Trump’s policies.
In another key moment, Mamdani criticized Cuomo for focusing on the rent-stabilized apartment he and his wife live in, suggesting that the former governor’s solution to the housing crisis was to evict them to make room for lower-income residents. Mamdani framed the issue as a choice between supporting policies that keep rents affordable or those that allow landlords to raise costs.
When Cuomo questioned Mamdani’s executive experience, the candidate countered by referencing Cuomo’s controversial 2020 decision to allow nursing home residents to return after a COVID-19 diagnosis, which led to underreporting of deaths in those facilities. Mamdani challenged the credibility of a leader who, in his view, had failed to protect vulnerable populations.
“Where I lack experience, I make up for in integrity,” Mamdani asserted. “And where you lack integrity, no amount of experience can compensate.”
Arabic 
English 