Trump Sets 10-Day Deadline for NYC Mayoral Field to Prevent Zohran Mamdani Victory
President urged John Catsimatidis to press long-shot hopefuls to withdraw within 10 days to avert a Zohran Mamdani win, according to Catsimatidis.
President Donald Trump told billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis on Sunday that he wants long-shot candidates in the crowded New York City mayoral race to withdraw within 10 days to prevent Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani from winning, Catsimatidis told the New York Post.
Trump said he does not want "a socialist mayor" in New York and asked that the field be winnowed so "the most qualified candidate" could defeat Mamdani, according to Catsimatidis. Asked what the president would do if candidates did not step aside, Catsimatidis said only, "He's going to do whatever he has to do."
Catsimatidis, a New York businessman with ties to both Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, said Trump set the 10-day timetable and expects results by next Wednesday. The call, as described by Catsimatidis, represents an unusual presidential intervention in a municipal contest.
Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York City Council who identifies as a democratic socialist, has emerged as a leading candidate in polls of the Democratic primary. The mayoral field includes multiple candidates running as long shots; Trump and other opponents have said they view Mamdani's platform as a threat to the city's direction.
It was not immediately clear which or how many long-shot candidates Trump wanted to withdraw, or how they would respond to the president's request. Catsimatidis did not provide details about any follow-up actions Trump might take after the deadline.
The intervention follows a pattern of national political figures seeking to shape local races, though presidential involvement in a New York City mayoral contest is rare. City and campaign officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the call or the timeline Catsimatidis described.
The mayoral primary and general election schedules remain unchanged, and candidates have continued to campaign across the city. As the 10-day deadline approaches, any shifts in the crowded field could alter the dynamics of both the Democratic primary and the general election contest in the nation's largest city.
