President Donald Trump recently said the two wanted to drop out of the New York mayor’s race. He didn’t designate who.
Zohran Mamdani responds to President Trump’s threat
New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani has called the threat of President Donald Trump’s arrest “attack on democracy.”
In a move that could overturn the mayoral race in New York City, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering Saudi Arabia’s US ambassador, Mayor Eric Adams.
The potential nominations face increasing pressure for Adams to drop re-elect bids in the crowded sector for state legislator Zoran Mamdani. Mamdani, a democratic socialist and Democratic candidate for mayor, led the poll 60 days before the November general election.
Mayor Adams, accused of corruption, has single-digit support for reelection, polls show. Adams and former governor Andrew Cuomo are both running independents, competing for moderate, conservative voters. Curtis Swawa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a crime prevention organisation, is the only Republican candidate in a predominantly democratic city.
Political analysts said pushing Adams out of the race could help Cuomo integrate support among voters who don’t like Mamdani.
In a statement, Adams said he has not received official job offers from the administration. “I listen whenever I am called to serve our country, but no formal offers have been made. I am still running for reelection. My full focus is on the safety and quality of life for all New Yorkers,” the statement said.
“Service to New Yorkers as mayor is the only job I’ve ever wanted,” he said.
Trump says he hopes the race will be “one-on-one.”
The New York Times first reported on the ambassador’s consultations, followed by Politico.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Adams chose not to run in the Democratic primary in June, but has publicly said he will remain in the race until the November 4th general election.
President Trump, a Queens native, has come to close with his mayoral campaign. Trump’s Justice Department dropped federal corruption charges against Adams in April. Trump officials said the prosecutors were politically motivated, preventing Adams from supporting the administration’s immigration enforcement plan.
Adams visited Trump at his Mar Lago Estate in Florida and attended Trump’s inauguration for what critics said, trying to reduce his accusations.
Trump argued that Mamdani, who controlled the June primary against Cuomo, could not become mayor. Trump even threatened to arrest Mamdani if he won over the mayor’s race and refused to allow federal officials to enforce immigration laws.
Mamdani, 33, said that if elected, the city will end city cooperation with city immigration and customs enforcement agencies.
On September 4th, Trump said he hoped the two were “one-on-one.”
“I think it’s a race that you can win,” he told reporters. Trump did not specify which candidates would like to drop out or who would like to win.
Mamdani has called for an attempt by Trump officials to intervene in the mayor’s “outrageous” race.
Eduardo Quebus is based in New York City. Contact him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or by signalling emcuevas.01.
