Candidates clash over who could best stand up to the president.
NEW YORK — The hits against President Donald Trump came hard, fast and frequently at Wednesday night’s debate for mayor in New York City — as did candidates’ claims that they’d fight him most fiercely.
Again and again, the nine contenders took turns presenting themselves as best-positioned to take on the Republican leader whose federal funding cuts, immigration agenda and interest in his Democratic-led hometown will define the next several years. They referenced him as often — if not more often — than frontrunner former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, the two largest targets in the race actually running as contenders.
“I know how to deal with Donald Trump because I’ve dealt with him before,” Cuomo declared, playing up his experience as a governor confronting Trump when Covid ravaged densely populated New York City.
Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, the state assemblymember who’s been polling in second place and closing the gap with the former governor, clashed over who poses a greater threat to the president.
“I am Donald Trump’s worst nightmare as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in,” Mamdani said, stressing that Cuomo’s donors have also been Trump donors.
Cuomo struck quickly and fiercely by referencing Mamdani’s limited experience in government, quipping, “Donald Trump would go through Mr. Mamdani like a hot knife through butter.”
This month’s Democratic primary for mayor in the country’s biggest city is unfolding as the Trump administration threatens New York City for being a “sanctuary city” limiting cooperation between federal immigration officers and local law enforcement. Trump has also targeted institutions like Columbia University, where encampments and demonstrations protesting Israel blanketed the campus last year and captured headlines.
It also will lead to the general election in November, where Adams — a Trump-friendly Democrat — will seek reelection as an independent. The mayor has sought to work with the administration, including with border czar Tom Homan on immigration enforcement, after the Trump Department of Justice instructed Manhattan prosecutors to drop their corruption case against him. Eric Adams’ case is permanently dismissed, he has denied wrongdoing and he has said he’s not engaging in a quid pro quo with the Trump administration.
Adrienne Adams, a newer entrant into the race for mayor, spent some of the debate arguing that she, as City Council speaker, has pushed back against Trump’s alleged influence over Eric Adams. The legislative body has taken legal action to block the return of federal immigration officers to the Rikers Island jail complex, as directed by an Adams administration executive order.
Brad Lander, the city comptroller, meanwhile, used some of his time on the debate stage to say he took charge in working to claw back funds the federal government docked from the deep-blue city.
“Look, when Donald Trump and Elon Musk stole that $80 million from New York City’s bank account, I uncovered it,” Lander said.
