On the eve of New York City’s most consequential mayoral race in decades, Donald Trump and Elon Musk threw their weight behind Andrew Cuomo—a move that stunned voters, ignited fury among progressives, and exposed deep fractures in the city’s political landscape. The endorsements, posted on Truth Social and X on November 4, 2025, came just 24 hours before polls opened across all five boroughs. Cuomo, who served as New York’s governor from 2011 to 2021, had spent months positioning himself as the anti-Trump candidate. Now, Trump himself was telling voters: "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him." Musk, meanwhile, wrote: "Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is," misspelling progressive candidate Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s name and indirectly targeting Republican Curtis Sliwa. The timing? Pure chaos. The message? Unmistakable.
The Irony That Broke the Internet
Cuomo’s entire mayoral campaign hinged on one central narrative: he was the only candidate who could stand up to Trump. His ads featured clips of Trump’s 2017 travel ban, his attacks on New York’s sanctuary cities, and his dismissal of the city as a "crime-ridden mess." Cuomo promised to rebuild trust with federal agencies, restore New York’s standing, and, above all, be the bulwark against a second Trump presidency. So when Trump’s endorsement dropped, it didn’t just feel like a betrayal—it felt like a punchline. "Andrew Cuomo who spent the entirety of a primary campaign on the premise that he was the best suited to take on Donald Trump," Zohran Mamdani told CNN’s Erin Burnett during a live interview recorded at 30 Hudson Yards. "And here we are with the irony that Donald Trump is endorsing Andrew Cuomo." Mamdani, 32, a Democratic Socialist and City Council member from Queens, didn’t just call out the hypocrisy. He weaponized it. "What you have is someone who built his brand on fighting Trump—and now Trump’s telling people to vote for him. That’s not leadership. That’s surrender."Musk’s Confusion and the Strategic Math
Elon Musk’s endorsement was even more bizarre. His misspelling of Mamdani’s name—"Mumdumi"—wasn’t a typo. It was a signal. Musk, who has increasingly positioned himself as a libertarian-leaning anti-establishment figure, clearly saw Mamdani as the real threat to Cuomo’s establishment appeal. By framing a vote for Sliwa as a vote for Mamdani, Musk was playing a classic game of vote-splitting. His logic? If conservative voters abandon Sliwa, they’ll either stay home or flip to Cuomo. That’s how you win a three-way race: make the center look inevitable. It’s not the first time Musk has dabbled in local politics. In 2022, he endorsed a Republican candidate in Virginia’s gubernatorial race under similar logic. But this was different. This was New York City. A place where even the idea of a billionaire telling 8.5 million people how to vote feels like an affront to democracy. "He’s not voting for Cuomo because he believes in him," said Dr. Lila Chen, a political scientist at Columbia University. "He’s voting for Cuomo because he wants to punish the left. And he thinks the left is more dangerous to his interests than Trump."Why This Matters More Than the Polls
The real story isn’t who’s leading in the polls—it’s who’s controlling the narrative. Cuomo, once seen as a damaged candidate after his 2021 resignation amid sexual harassment allegations, has spent the last six months rehabilitating his image. He’s hired former Obama advisors, courted labor unions, and quietly raised over $28 million. But none of that mattered until Trump and Musk showed up. Suddenly, the race wasn’t about housing or transit—it was about loyalty, identity, and who controls the narrative. Mamdani, by contrast, raised just $4.2 million. His campaign ran on grassroots organizing, town halls, and viral TikTok clips of him riding the subway with constituents. He didn’t need celebrity endorsements. He needed credibility. And now, with two of the world’s most powerful men backing his opponent, his message of transparency was being drowned out by a tidal wave of irony. "I’m not here to be liked," Mamdani said during the CNN interview. "I’m here to fight for the single mother working two jobs, the immigrant family afraid to call 911, the teacher who hasn’t seen a raise in eight years. And that’s sadly unique in this race."What Happens After the Polls Close
If Cuomo wins, the question won’t be whether he’s qualified—it’ll be whether he’s legitimate. Can a man who spent years railing against Trump now credibly lead a city that’s 70% Democratic? Will his victory be seen as a coup orchestrated by billionaire influencers? And what does it mean for future elections when a candidate can be anointed by Twitter and Truth Social instead of voters? If Mamdani wins, it’ll be a historic upset—the first progressive socialist mayor of New York City, elected on the back of a grassroots movement that defied billionaire interference. And if Sliwa pulls off a shocker? Well, then we’re not just watching an election. We’re watching the collapse of the two-party system in America’s largest city.Background: Cuomo’s Fall and Rise
Andrew Cuomo’s political career was once untouchable. He passed the most progressive rent laws in state history, expanded Medicaid, and led New York’s pandemic response—until the allegations surfaced in 2021. He resigned in disgrace. For years, he vanished. Then, quietly, he returned. No press conferences. No interviews. Just a steady stream of policy papers, donor meetings, and strategic appearances in Brooklyn and the Bronx. His campaign didn’t talk about his past. It talked about the future. And now, with Trump’s blessing, it’s working.FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Trump endorse Andrew Cuomo, given their history?
Trump’s endorsement is less about loyalty to Cuomo and more about political strategy. Cuomo positioned himself as the only candidate who could beat progressive challengers like Mamdani, making him the ideal vehicle to prevent a left-wing victory. Trump sees Mamdani’s policies—like rent control expansion and public transit funding—as threats to business interests. By backing Cuomo, Trump ensures a more business-friendly mayor, even if it contradicts his past attacks on him.
How did Elon Musk’s misspelling of Mamdani’s name impact the race?
Musk’s misspelling of "Mamdani" as "Mumdumi" wasn’t accidental—it was a deliberate attempt to dismiss and dehumanize the progressive candidate. In a race where name recognition matters, the error reinforced the perception that Mamdani is an outsider. But it backfired with younger voters, who shared the post with #MamdaniNotMumdumi, turning it into a rallying cry. The misspelling became a symbol of elite indifference to diversity.
What’s the significance of the endorsements coming exactly 24 hours before voting?
Late endorsements are rare in major elections, especially from figures with global influence. By waiting until the final day, Trump and Musk maximized media impact while minimizing time for counter-messaging. It’s a tactic used in military operations—strike when the enemy is off-balance. For Mamdani’s campaign, it meant scrambling to respond without the benefit of a full day to mobilize supporters.
Is this the first time billionaires have intervened in a NYC mayoral race?
No. Michael Bloomberg spent over $100 million to win the mayoralty in 2001 and 2009. But this is different: Trump and Musk aren’t funding campaigns—they’re dictating voter behavior through public statements. Their power doesn’t come from money, but from reach. This sets a dangerous precedent: that elections can be swayed not by policy, but by viral posts from billionaires with no accountability to voters.