If You Vote Democrat, I’ll Stop Funding the State’, Trump Warns New York
U.S. President, Donald Trump has issued a controversial warning to voters in New York, saying he would withhold federal funding from the state if it elects a Democratic candidate in the upcoming mayoral election.
Trump’s remarks, which have drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and legal experts, were made during a recent 60 Minutes interview and amplified across his social media platforms.
Trump’s statement specifically targeted Zohran Mamdani, the left-leaning Democratic and Working Families Party candidate whom the former president branded a “communist.”
He argued that the U.S. government should not “keep sending billions to a city that elects radical socialists who hate our country.”
“If New York votes for a Democrat again—especially this Mamdani guy—I’ll stop funding the state. I’ll only give them the bare minimum required by law,” Trump declared. He went on to endorse former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, describing him as “a much safer choice” than Mamdani.
The comments have triggered a wave of political backlash, with critics accusing Trump of attempting to intimidate voters and undermine federal neutrality in state affairs.
Legal scholars were quick to point out that U.S. presidents cannot unilaterally cut off funding to states or cities based on election outcomes, as appropriations are controlled by Congress.
“The Constitution doesn’t give the president power to punish voters for political choices,” constitutional law expert Laurence Tribe told reporters. “Threatening to withhold funds for political reasons is both unconstitutional and authoritarian.”
New York officials also reacted strongly. State Attorney General Letitia James described Trump’s remarks as “an assault on democracy and the rule of law,” while Mamdani called it “a desperate attempt to bully New Yorkers into submission.”
“New York cannot and will not be held hostage by a man who believes democracy is a transaction,” Mamdani said in a campaign statement.
Despite the outrage, Trump’s comments appear to resonate with some of his supporters, who argue that liberal governance has mismanaged federal aid.
He has repeatedly framed Democratic-led cities as “lawless and wasteful,” claiming that his administration would reward “patriotic and productive states” instead.
Analysts, however, warn that such rhetoric could inflame political polarization and test the limits of presidential authority. “This isn’t just campaign bluster,” noted political analyst Abby Phillip. “It’s part of Trump’s long-running strategy of using financial leverage and populist outrage to consolidate power and intimidate opposition-run regions.”
As the New York mayoral race tightens, Trump’s threat adds new tension to an already charged political atmosphere. Whether his warning will influence voters or trigger a legal pushback remains to be seen, but the statement has once again placed the former president at the center of a national debate over democracy, power, and the boundaries of executive influence.
