As his hometown of New York votes for its next mayor , United States President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and former New York state governor who is standing as an independent this time.

The Republican president’s endorsement of Cuomo – who lost the Democratic primary to self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in June – came just hours before polling booths opened on Tuesday in the closely watched election.

Trump has called Mamdani, a Muslim immigrant who is campaigning on a promise to make New York more affordable for its residents via rent freezes and universal childcare, a “ communist “. He has also threatened to withhold federal funds from New York City if Mamdani wins.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record

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