STORY: At his final campaign rally, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers on Monday (November 3) to stand up to bullies, specifically referencing Republican U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to restrict federal funds for the city if Mamdani wins the election.

Mamdani criticized Trump's attempt to influence the mayoral election, stating that the president's preferred candidate, Andrew Cuomo, shares his "same donors, same small vision, and same sense of impunity." Mamdani argued that Trump's endorsement of Cuomo reflects his desire for a mayor who will serve his administration's interests, rather than the best interests of New York City.

The candidate emphasized that he will not back down to Trump's threats, saying it's time to "finally stand up to the bullies that make these threats, not to become the bullies ourselves."

Mamdani also drew a contrast between himself and Cuomo, stating that while Cuomo seeks to appeal to Trump's donors, he aims to speak to all New Yorkers, including those who voted for Trump in hopes of improving their economic situation. Mamdani promised to deliver on his agenda to address the city's challenges, particularly the high cost of living, which he believes has been exploited by Trump's administration.

The candidate's message comes as polls show him leading against Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, with the election set to take place on Tuesday (November 4).

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VIDEO SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI HOLDS CAMPAIGN EVENT IN QUEENS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 3, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SAYING:

“But I want to take a moment to speak about who is on the ballot tonight. Donald Trump just put out a statement encouraging New Yorkers saying they must vote for Andrew Cuomo. We know and have known for months that Donald Trump would favor Andrew Cuomo as the mayor. They share the same donors. They share the same small vision. They share the same sense of impunity. And yet, in these final days, what was rumored, what was feared has become naked and unabashed. The MAGA movement's embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump's understanding that this would be the best mayor for him, not not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump in his administration.”

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, IN EXCHANGE WITH OFF-CAMERA REPORTER, SAYING:

REPORTER: “If you are elected, there is a very real threat that you're going to have to deal with. How will you address that after you're elected if you win?”

MAMDANI: “I will address that threat for what it is. It is a threat. It is not the law. And too often we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth as if it is already legal just by virtue of who is saying it. And it is time to finally stand up to the bullies that make these threats not to become the bullies ourselves. And we've seen time and time again that the best way to respond to Donald Trump and to defeat these kinds of threats is to actually stand up and fight back. You've seen leaders across this country who have shown their unwillingness to compromise on their own morals and their own values as the way in which they fight back. And too often what we found in New York City is instead a willingness to capitulate and coordinate. And all of this with the most collaborative mayor (referring to Cuomo) you could find for Donald Trump in New York City.”

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SAYING:

“If Donald Trump ran a presidential campaign with the promise of cheaper groceries. Donald Trump ran a presidential campaign committing to lowering the cost of living. What our success will show is that it is not enough to diagnose the despair in working class Americans lives. You have to actually deliver on the agenda. And that is what we intend to do each and every day while we are in office.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SAYING:

“You know, I will always speak to every New Yorker who calls the city home. And while I'm looking to speak to Donald Trump's voters, Andrew Cuomo is looking to speak to Donald Trump's donors. That's the difference here. These are New Yorkers who voted for the president in the hopes of having a lower cost of living and who instead found that their despair was exploited as a means by which to deliver the political prosecution of Donald Trump's enemies and the enacting of the single largest deportation force in American history.”

8. WHITE FLASH

9. MAMDANI ENDING CONFERENCE