Cuomo downplays president's endorsement: 'We need a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump'

Former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday downplayed President Donald Trump's unsolicited endorsement in Tuesday's New York City mayoral election, stating that he is a candidate who can stand up to the president.

Trump first teased his endorsement of the former governor, who is running as an Independent for mayor, on Sunday night during an interview on CBS News' "60 Minutes." Trump gave the formal endorsement on Monday, stating that he was better than frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, who is a socialist.

The president also stated that he would likely stop federal funding for New York City if Mamdani wins on Tuesday except for the federal funding that the government is legally obligated to provide.

"We need a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and get the funding that New York deserves," Cuomo told reporters. "I can stand up to Trump. Trump will go through Mamdani like a hot knife through butter." 

Mamdani, who defeated Cuomo for the Democratic nomination over the summer, blasted the former governor for securing Trump's endorsement.

"Late last night, Andrew Cuomo received Donald Trump's endorsement," Mamdani claimed, per Fox News. "If elected as mayor, our city will only descend deeper into a darkness that has forced too many of our neighbors to flee and made it impossible for working people to live lives of dignity."

Mamdani is currently leading Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the polls. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.