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President Donald Trump has thought about making a bold move in the New York City mayoral race as conservatives aim to block Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani’s victory.
According to reports, the president’s advisors have discussed the idea of offering positions within the administration to both Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. This move is intended to consolidate conservative support around former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
As it stands, Mamdani is leading election polling, followed by Cuomo, then Sliwa and Adams in fourth.
The strategy, as outlined by The New York Times, involves encouraging Sliwa, who is in third place, and Adams, in fourth, to exit the race. The idea is that their withdrawal would lead voters to support Cuomo in an effort to prevent Mamdani from taking office.
Three sources with knowledge of the behind-closed-doors discussions told the publication the administration is eager to intervene and has been considering their options for weeks.
One insider claimed the administration has started looking into ambassadorships which could be a good fit for Adams, but noted the talks are going ‘in different directions’ at this point.
Neither Adams or Sliwa would discuss the rumors.
As it stands, Mamdani is leading election polling, followed by Cuomo, then Sliwa and Adams in fourth
The president’s thinking is that if both Sliwa in third and Adams in fourth drop out of the race, voters will instead rally behind Cuomo to keep Mamdani out of power
Adams’ former chief of staff Frank Carone insisted the moderate Democrat-turned-independent had ‘over $4 million on hand, a record of success and, more importantly, the energy to run a successful campaign.’
He added that Adams ‘won’t be distracted by responding to rumors.’
Sliwa was even more definitive in his answer, insisting he was ‘not interested’ in any job the administration had to offer and that instead his ‘focus is right here in New York.’
Even if either of the men were to take Trump up on any potential offer, it would be difficult to have their names removed from the ballot in time.
And it would be a substantial risk, betting on New Yorkers to rally behind Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 while facing multiple accusations of sexual harassment, which he denied.
Cuomo lost the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June and ultimately decided to run as an independent instead.
He and Trump have known one another for more than 40 years.
The president’s advisors have reportedly considered offering administration roles to both Mayor Eric Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in an effort to bolster the conservative vote behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo
Polling has revealed Cuomo is the most likely contender to beat Mamdani, but as it stands he likely doesn’t have the numbers
Meanwhile, Mamdani is a 33-year-old socialist who has been branded a ‘communist lunatic’ by Trump and vows to make New York more affordable with things like free bus service, corporate tax hikes, and affordable housing initiatives.
‘Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor,’ Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Mamdani described himself as ‘Donald Trump‘s worst nightmare’ in the Democratic debate, noting he is ‘a progressive, Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things I believe in.’
Trump’s concern about a Mamdani win is unique among Republicans in Washington.
Many have considered that is extremely liberal policies will serve them well in the midterms, as they’ll be able to draw comparisons between him and any other Democrat candidates.
Trump, however, has a deep and storied connection to New York and has heard the complaints of locals who are concerned about Mamdani’s stance on everything from immigration to real estate and raising taxes.
