'He's one of us': How Trump is trying to influence New York's mayoral race
News September 08, 2025

'He's one of us': How Trump is trying to influence New York's mayoral race

Trump is eager to quickly consolidate New York City mayoral field from three major candidates running against Zohran Mamdani to a one-on-one fight.

Donald Trump appears to be subtly entering the New York City mayoral race, strategizing to consolidate the opposition against Democratic Socialist Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani. Sources close to Trump suggest he's keen on streamlining the field of candidates challenging Mamdani, aiming to transform what is currently a three-way race into a more focused, head-to-head contest.

This move, seemingly born from a desire to prevent a fractured vote among those opposed to Mamdani's progressive policies, has sparked considerable discussion within New York political circles. The former president, despite no longer holding office, retains significant influence, particularly within certain segments of the Republican and independent voting blocs. His potential involvement raises questions about the tactics he might employ and the extent to which he can sway the outcome of a local election.

The current mayoral race features multiple candidates vying for attention and support. Trump's reported strategy centers on identifying the candidate with the strongest chance of defeating Mamdani and then subtly, but powerfully, encouraging other contenders to step aside, effectively uniting the anti-Mamdani vote behind a single banner.

While Trump hasn't explicitly endorsed a candidate or launched a full-fledged campaign, insiders suggest he's working behind the scenes, leveraging his network and media connections to shape the narrative surrounding the race. This could involve private conversations with candidates, strategic media appearances, or even targeted social media activity designed to highlight perceived weaknesses in Mamdani's platform and strengths in the chosen challenger.

The implications of Trump's involvement are significant. For Mamdani, it could galvanize his base and paint him as an outsider facing the establishment. For the other candidates, it presents a complex dilemma: align with Trump and risk alienating moderate voters, or resist his influence and potentially split the vote, ultimately paving the way for Mamdani's victory.

The coming weeks will likely reveal the full extent of Trump's strategy and its impact on the New York City mayoral race. Whether his efforts will successfully consolidate the opposition and create a viable challenger to Mamdani remains to be seen, but his presence undoubtedly adds a layer of intrigue and national attention to a local election.
Category: Politics