U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted that he might consider cutting off federal funding to New York City if state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani wins an upcoming election in the city.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News, Trump said he would not allow the federal government to “keep funding cities that support policies against America’s interests.”
However, legal experts say that the president does not have the full authority to withhold federal funds on his own. They note that Congress and the courts play key roles in determining how federal money is distributed, and that any attempt to block funding without legal grounds would likely be challenged in court.
According to constitutional lawyer Daniel Reiss, “Trump can issue political threats, but if he tries to act on them, courts are very likely to block such moves as unconstitutional.”
So far, the federal government has not taken any official step on the issue, but Trump’s remarks have sparked debate among New York politicians and residents, especially those supporting Mamdani, who is known for his pro-Palestinian stance and advocacy for social justice.