Trump Takes Aim at NYC Election, Says He’s ‘Better Looking’ Than Mamdani and Warns of Funding Freeze

 

President Donald J. Trump sparked fresh political fireworks during a wide-ranging interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, revealing that he may withhold federal funding from New York City if Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the upcoming mayoral election.

In his trademark mix of humor and blunt talk, Trump brushed off comparisons between himself and Mamdani — whom he labeled a “communist” — after host Norah O’Donnell noted that the left-wing candidate had been called “a progressive version of Trump.”

“Well, I think I’m a much better-looking person than him, right?” Trump quipped, flashing a grin that drew laughter from the audience.

When pressed on what Mamdani’s victory could mean for his hometown, Trump didn’t mince words. “It’s gonna be hard for me as president to give a lot of money to New York,” he said. “Because if you have a Communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”

Despite his long-running feud with former governor Andrew Cuomo, Trump admitted he’d rather see Cuomo win. “If it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time,” he said candidly.

The president also revisited his criticism of former mayor Bill de Blasio, calling him “the worst mayor in history,” and said electing Mamdani would be “like de Blasio 2.0 — but with less charm.”

An Unlikely Reunion with CBS

The 60 Minutes appearance marked Trump’s first sit-down with the network since settling a lawsuit earlier this year over its 2024 election coverage. Relations between the president and CBS have thawed under the new leadership of Paramount CEO David Ellison — son of Trump ally Larry Ellison.

“I think CBS is trying to do the right thing now,” Trump said, praising Ellison for “bringing fairness back to the news.”

On Immigration, Shutdowns, and Schumer

Trump used the interview to reaffirm his hardline stance on border security, rejecting the idea that ICE raids have gone too far. “No, I think they haven’t gone far enough,” he insisted. “We’ve been held back by liberal judges — Biden judges, Obama judges — and we can’t keep doing that.”

He defended deportation efforts, saying his administration is focused on removing “criminals, drug dealers, and people who should have never been here in the first place,” while promising that those without records could be reassessed for legal return later.

On the ongoing government shutdown — now entering its 33rd day — Trump blamed Democrats for “Trump derangement syndrome.”
“They’re losing so much they don’t know what to do,” he said. “They’ve lost their way. They’ve become crazed lunatics.”

When asked if a deal was near, Trump replied confidently: “It’s gonna get solved. Eventually, they’ll have to vote.”

The president closed the interview with another of his signature jabs, this time at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Schumer’s become a kamikaze pilot,” Trump said. “He’s going down with the plane, and it’s not a pretty sight.”

A Confident, Combative President

With just nine months into his term, Trump remains both combative and confident — mixing humor with hardline politics in equal measure. As the New York mayoral race heats up, his comments about Mamdani are sure to add new fuel to an already fiery contest.

“I love New York,” Trump said as the interview wrapped. “But New York’s gotta love America back.”