Trump Calls for Candidates to Drop Out to Stop Mamdani
President Acknowledges Desire to Prevent 'Communist Mayor' While Advisers Offer Federal Jobs to Clear Field
President Donald Trump on Thursday publicly acknowledged his efforts to orchestrate the New York City mayoral race, calling for two candidates to drop out so that frontrunner Zohran Mamdani can be more easily defeated in the November election. The unprecedented presidential intervention in local politics has thrown America's largest city into political turmoil as Trump's advisers reportedly dangle federal positions to reshape the electoral landscape.
Trump made the startling admission during a White House press conference, stating his preference for a streamlined race that would give rivals a better chance against the democratic socialist candidate who leads polling by double digits.
"I'd Prefer Not to Have a Communist Mayor"
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump openly expressed his electoral calculations for the nation's most populous city.
"I would like to see two people drop out and have it be one on one. And I think that's a race that could be won. I don't think you can win unless you have one on one. Somehow he's gotten a little bit of a lead. I have no idea how that happened, but I'd prefer not to have a communist mayor of New York City."
Trump's characterization of Mamdani as a "communist" reflects his administration's broader strategy of painting progressive Democrats as radical leftists, according to US Muslims reporting. The president did not specify which candidates he wanted to see exit the race, though multiple outlets have reported his advisers are targeting specific candidates with job offers.
Behind-the-Scenes Deal-Making Exposed
Multiple news organizations reported on Wednesday that Trump advisers have reached out to both incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, offering administration positions as incentives to abandon their campaigns. The goal, according to these reports, is to consolidate opposition around former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who currently trails Mamdani by significant margins in polling.
Adams has been offered a potential ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia or a position at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sources told multiple outlets. The embattled mayor, whose federal corruption charges were dropped by the Trump Justice Department earlier this year, has publicly denied that he would exit the race despite the overtures.
"I have a job that I'm focused on. I am doing that job and I am looking forward to getting reelected," Adams told reporters during a Bronx press conference.
Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and the Republican nominee, has similarly rejected pressure to withdraw. His campaign has raised over $3.4 million and maintains the backing of state Republican leadership.
Mamdani's Commanding Lead Sparks Intervention
The extraordinary White House meddling comes as Mamdani maintains a substantial lead across multiple polls. An AARP New York-Gotham Polling & Analytics survey of 1,376 likely voters found the 33-year-old assemblyman with 41.8% support, compared to 23.4% for Cuomo, 16.5% for Sliwa, and just 8.8% for Adams.
American Pulse Research and Consulting reported similar findings in August, with Mamdani holding 37% compared to Cuomo's 24.6%, Sliwa's 17%, and Adams' 11.4%, according to US Muslims. The polling consistently shows Mamdani ahead across demographics and in various hypothetical matchup scenarios.
If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City. The Queens assemblyman won a shocking upset in the Democratic primary in June, defeating Cuomo by 12 percentage points despite being significantly outspent.
Candidates Push Back Against Federal Interference
Mamdani has seized on the reports of Trump administration involvement to attack both the president and his rivals. During a hastily organized Manhattan press conference, the Democratic nominee accused Trump of attempting to circumvent democracy in his hometown.
"Let's cut out the middle man. Why should I debate Donald Trump's puppet when I can debate Donald Trump, himself. If Donald Trump is serious about this, he should come to New York City and we can have as many debates as you want about why he is cutting SNAP benefits for hungry New Yorkers just to fund tax cuts for his billionaire donors," Mamdani said, according to CBS News.
The candidate framed the potential job offers as evidence of corruption that alienates voters from the political process. "The reason so many New Yorkers are disillusioned with the political landscape is due to news like this. Backroom deals and corrupt arrangements only serve to deepen the sense of frustration and hopelessness regarding politics in this country," he told reporters.
Strategic Calculations and Political Stakes
Political analysts note that Trump's intervention reflects broader concerns about the influence of progressive forces in major Democratic strongholds. Mamdani's rise has energized the left wing of the Democratic Party while alarming pro-business Democrats and Republicans who view his democratic socialist platform as potentially damaging to New York's economy.
The consolidated opposition strategy appears designed to prevent vote-splitting that could benefit Mamdani in a multi-candidate race. Polling suggests that in head-to-head matchups, particularly against Cuomo, the race would be significantly more competitive.
However, the unprecedented nature of presidential interference in a municipal election has created its own political dynamics. Former three-term Republican Governor George Pataki defended Sliwa's right to remain in the race, stating, "Curtis is dedicated to the city. I fail to see why there is pressure to push him out".
A Test of Federal Influence
As the November 4 general election approaches, Trump's open acknowledgment of his preference for manipulating the New York mayoral race represents a remarkable departure from traditional federal restraint in local politics. The outcome will serve as a crucial test of whether presidential pressure can reshape municipal electoral dynamics in America's largest city.
The controversy has already become a central campaign issue, with Mamdani using the reports to reinforce his outsider credentials. At the same time, his opponents must navigate the political implications of potential federal involvement. Whether Trump's intervention helps or hurts the candidates he seeks to influence may ultimately depend on how New York voters respond to unprecedented White House meddling in their local democracy.