Politics & Government
Attacked By Trump, Mamdani Vows To Use ‘Every Tool Of The Law' To Fight Threats To NYC
The president vowed to cut off New York City's federal funding if the democratic socialist wins.
September 30, 2025
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani rebuffed President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to withhold federal funds from New York if he is elected mayor, saying at a candidate forum in Harlem on Monday evening that he would fight any clawbacks of federal funds.
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Hours earlier, Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social that Mamdani “is going to have problems with Washington like no Mayor in the history of our once great City.”
“Remember, he needs the money from me, as President, in order to fulfill all of his FAKE Communist promises,” added Trump. “He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him?”
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Mamdani, addressing a question about federal funding cuts to city schools relating to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, said that “the most effective response to Donald Trump is an exhibition of strength, not an exhibition of surrender.”
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani takes part in a mayoral forum at the Apollo Theater about centering black women, Sept. 29, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
He went on to note the example of California, whose successful legal challenges have restored at least $168 billion in federal funding for transportation, public health education and more, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Mamdani said that he’d hire 200 more lawyers to staff the city’s Law Department.
“It’s employing every tool of the law, ensuring we have the lawyers,” said Mamdani, “and to understand that these are political battles which can only be won if you are politically willing to fight for them and to do so in public.”
The forum at the Apollo Theater’s Victoria Auditorium was hosted by The Links, Inc. and focused on issues impacting Black women. Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa spoke individually and answered some selected questions from the audience, in remarks moderated by NY1 anchor Cheryl Wills.
In keeping with the evening’s program, the candidates mostly avoided attacking each other and stuck to topics ranging from affordability to school funding to maternal mortality.
The event is the first in the campaign since Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday ended his bid for reelection, claiming unflattering media attention and decisions from the Campaign Finance Board denying him matching funds made his campaign untenable.
Mamdani and Sliwa, earlier in the day, capitalized on the mayor’s exit, hosting events in Washington Heights and the Upper West Side.
Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa participates in a mayoral forum at the Apollo Theater about centering black women, Sept. 29, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Cuomo, who polls show stands to benefit the most from the shrunken field but not enough to eke out a win, had no events on his public schedule on Monday; the New York Times reported the former governor spent the day calling potential donors. Since the June primary, some prominent business leaders have tried to winnow the general election field to two candidates, seeing it as the best chance to defeat Mamdani.
At a campaign event Monday, Mamdani said Cuomo “would be the greatest thing that could happen for Donald Trump” because he would “clear the way for Donald Trump’s agenda.”
Sliwa, at the candidate’s forum in Harlem, said of Cuomo: “Let me tell you, he’s in the Hamptons with the billionaires, ‘Hey Donald, guess what, I need your help, get Sliwa out of the race,’” an apparent reference to reports that Cuomo and the president privately discussed the New York mayoral election.
Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo takes part in a mayoral forum at the Apollo Theater about centering black women, Sept. 29, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
“Guess what? I ain’t dropping out,” added Sliwa. “Let the people vote on November 4.”
Cuomo, asked by Wills how he would respond to the president’s threats to cut federal funding to New York, said that Trump is a “bully” and noted the president “threatened” him many times as governor.
“But I defended New York, and we won most of the time, and we will again.”
This press release was produced by The City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
