New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani pledged Monday evening to protect all federal funding for the city, responding to President Donald Trump’s warning to withhold $7.4 billion annually if the progressive contender wins the November election.
Speaking with CNN host Erin Burnett on OutFront, Mamdani dismissed any notion of accepting cuts and pointed to California’s legal victories against similar federal threats as a roadmap.
Why It Matters
Trump’s statement marks a direct intervention in New York City’s mayoral race, raising questions about federal-local dynamics in his second term. The $7.4 billion in federal funding underpins critical services such as education, infrastructure, and public safety.
Trump has long weighed in on New York City and state politics. In 2020, he clashed with then-Governor Andrew Cuomo—now Mamdani’s main opponent—over pandemic policies. More recently, Trump and other Republicans have openly criticized Mamdani and his progressive platform.
What To Know
Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and democratic socialist, continues to lead the mayoral race after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams withdrew Sunday. His campaign focuses on progressive initiatives including rent freezes, free public transit, and higher minimum wages—policies that helped him secure a decisive victory over Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary.
On Monday, Trump posted to Truth Social that Mamdani “won’t be getting any of it,” questioning the purpose of supporting him and criticizing his ideology as one that “has failed, always, for thousands of years.”
During the CNN interview, Burnett asked Mamdani if he was prepared for the possibility of losing federal funding. He responded firmly:
“No, we will fight for every single dollar that the city currently receives from the federal government.”
Mamdani highlighted the importance of responding to threats with strength, citing California’s approach where the attorney general estimated winning more than $30,000 for every dollar spent on lawsuits challenging federal funding cuts.
In August, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced legal efforts to safeguard over $168 billion in federal funding. The state filed 37 lawsuits, led or co-led 23 of them, and submitted more than 40 amicus briefs, achieving favorable rulings in 17 of 19 cases with 13 injunctions currently in effect.
Speaking Monday morning, Mamdani stressed that even with Adams cooperating with the Trump administration, federal policies still heavily influence New York City. He pointed to instances of federal detention of New Yorkers as young as six, $50 million withheld from schools, and $80 million seized from a bank account, asserting the city deserves “someone who will fight for it.”
In April, a federal judge ruled the Trump administration cannot deny funds to sanctuary cities, a position upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, New York State won a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security over withheld disaster relief funds tied to sanctuary policies.
What People Are Saying
Mamdani told reporters Monday:
“I think that Donald Trump is going through the stages of grief. He began with denial, where he said there was no way we could win this race, and he would use every tool at his disposal to ensure that was the case… Now he’s coming to terms with the fact that we’re going to win this race.”
Trump responded on Truth Social:
“He 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. He won’t be getting any of it, so what’s the point of voting for him?”
What Happens Next
New Yorkers will vote on November 4 to select their next mayor.
