Trump Sets Deadline for NYC Mayoral Candidates To Step Aside To Block Mamdani

President Donald Trump has privately urged several long-shot New York City mayoral contenders to drop out of the race within the next week, warning that a fractured field could hand victory to Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, The New York Post reported Thursday.

On Sunday, Trump personally called billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, who has close ties to both Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, to express concern over the direction of the city if Mamdani prevails in November.

“He is concerned about the New York City race. He does not want a socialist mayor, and he said, ‘It’s not going to happen’ under his watch and wants a person under his watch,” Catsimatidis told The Post.

In a rare move for a sitting president, Trump made clear that he expects the field narrowed within 10 days.

“At the end of the next 10 days, he wants the most qualified candidate to beat Mamdani,” Catsimatidis said. When pressed on what Trump might do if the field doesn’t consolidate, he added only, “He’s going to do whatever he has to do.”

Sources familiar with Trump’s thinking said he is exploring ways to push both Sliwa and Adams to step aside in favor of former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The push is not driven by loyalty to Cuomo, but by polling trends since the primary showing the ex-governor holding steady in second place, while Sliwa trails in third and Adams further behind. Trump and GOP strategists believe Cuomo may be the strongest challenger to Mamdani, whose approval ratings have plateaued while his negatives remain unusually high for a Democratic nominee.

The call comes just one day after reports emerged that senior White House officials are attempting to find Adams a position elsewhere, potentially to entice him to exit his independent re-election bid.

Adams’ campaign, however, signaled he has no intention of backing out. “While other candidates have quit their jobs, Mayor Adams hasn’t walked away from his responsibilities,” campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro told the Post. “He is running for re-election not because he needs another position, but because he believes deeply in the future of this city and has a proven record of getting things done.”