Curtis Sliwa, the Republican contender for New York City mayor, has thrown down the gauntlet, asking Donald Trump to steer clear of the city’s heated mayoral race, according to The Washington Examiner.
The Big Apple’s political arena is a four-way slugfest between Sliwa, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with Trump reportedly eyeing a role in tipping the scales against Mamdani.
Sliwa, known for his no-nonsense style as the founder of the Guardian Angels, made his plea public, arguing that Trump’s involvement could backfire spectacularly in a city that leans heavily blue.
His concern isn’t baseless; Trump’s nationwide clout doesn’t always resonate with New Yorkers who often view his brand of politics with skepticism.
And let’s be honest, in a place where progressive coffee shops outnumber conservative voters, a Trump endorsement might be more of a liability than a lifeline.
“I would just say to the president, spend your time where it’s needed more, on geopolitical interests that affect all Americans,” Sliwa declared. With all due respect to the former president’s knack for shaking things up, Sliwa’s got a point—NYC’s local squabbles hardly need a national figure turning the heat up further.
Trump, a native New Yorker with a personal stake in his hometown’s future, has hinted at stepping in to block Mamdani’s progressive agenda from taking root.
Reports from The New York Times suggest he’s even reached out to Cuomo recently, surveying the field for a candidate to back. It’s classic Trump—never one to sit on the sidelines when he smells a fight.
But Sliwa isn’t buying that this intervention would help. “In this situation, it doesn’t help if he intervenes in New York City,” he insisted. If anything, it’s a gift to Mamdani, who’s already positioning himself as the anti-Trump crusader for the left-leaning crowd.
Speaking of Mamdani, he’s not shy about playing the resistance card, boosting his progressive credentials by framing himself as Trump’s nemesis.
Every mention of Trump seems to fuel his campaign’s narrative, a clever if predictable move. Sliwa nailed it when he said, “Every day it’s Trump versus Zohran Mamdani, it’s a good day for Zohran Mamdani.”
Mamdani didn’t hold back on the reported Trump-Cuomo call either, slamming the former governor for cozying up to the ex-president.
“The job of mayor is not to audition to be the jester for a want-to-be king,” he fired off. While the imagery is vivid, one wonders if Mamdani’s own willingness to chat with Trump on “mutually beneficial” issues undercuts his high horse just a tad.
Meanwhile, the race remains a messy deadlock with Sliwa, Cuomo, and Adams refusing to consolidate behind a single candidate to stop Mamdani’s momentum.
Opponents of the Democratic Socialist are practically begging for unity, but egos seem to be winning the day. It’s a classic political standoff—everyone wants to be the hero, but no one wants to step aside.
Adding another layer, Trump’s administration has a friendly history with Mayor Adams, though recent dismal polling has led to some distance. It’s a pragmatic move; no one wants to hitch their wagon to a sinking ship, even if past alliances were cordial.
Sliwa, for his part, isn’t shocked by Trump’s apparent outreach to Cuomo over himself. “No, come on, let’s face it. Cuomo’s been talking to Trump for years,” he remarked, acknowledging the long-standing ties between the families. It’s a fair observation, even if it stings a bit to be overlooked.
The real risk here, as Sliwa sees it, is that Trump’s shadow over this race only amplifies Mamdani’s narrative of standing up to conservative forces.
In a city where progressive ideals often dominate the conversation, that’s a powerful tool for a candidate with a socialist platform.
So where does this leave the non-Mamdani camp? The refusal of Sliwa, Cuomo, and Adams to unite behind one candidate is a glaring vulnerability, practically rolling out the red carpet for a progressive victory. It’s frustrating to watch from a conservative lens—sometimes, winning means knowing when to compromise.