With early voting for the New York City mayoral contest commencing in just two days, ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared to concur with a radio personality’s insinuation that Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani would ‘applaud’ a terrorist incident.
Speaking on Sid Rosenberg’s “Sid & Friends In The Morning,” Cuomo stated, “Being mayor is a daunting responsibility. As mayor or governor, you could awaken any day to a prison revolt, a recent mass shooting, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, impending financial collapse, or Wall Street instability. Any morning presents a crisis. People’s lives hang in the balance—should another 9/11 tragically occur, can you envision Mamdani holding that position?”
Rosenberg responded, “I can. He would be celebrating.”
Cuomo then added, “That presents a further issue. But consider that scenario: if Mamdani were in office during 9/11, what fate would have befallen this city?”
Later that day, when questioned about the interview, Mamdani described Cuomo’s comments as “repugnant.”
Mamdani stated, “These are Andrew Cuomo’s concluding moments in public life, and he is opting to use them to launch discriminatory assaults against the individual poised to become the city’s inaugural Muslim leader.”
He further explained, “Honestly, this isn’t personal. It concerns the reality that over 1 million Muslims reside in New York City, and for our faith to be disparaged and defamed by someone once regarded as a Democratic Party leader highlights that prejudice and racial bias aren’t solely Republican issues; they also exist within our own party. It is time we move past Andrew Cuomo and anyone who condones such language from him.”
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo’s campaign, communicated to TIME in a statement that the ex-governor’s comments alluded to Mamdani’s associate, Hasan Piker, who famously stated “America deserved 9/11.” This was a remark that 9/11 victims’ families urged Zohran Mamdani to disavow, a request he reportedly declined for several months.
Piker, a popular streamer, later acknowledged that his remarks about 9/11 were inappropriate. Cuomo did not mention Piker’s name during his conversation with Rosenberg. In the past week, Mamdani described Piker’s comments on 9/11 as “objectionable and reprehensible.”
Mamdani’s campaign had no immediate response when asked for a statement.
The mayoral contest has garnered nationwide interest over recent months. This summer, Mamdani achieved a significant political surprise by defeating Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Cuomo subsequently initiated an independent campaign, though he contends with a formidable challenge against Mamdani, who maintains a double-digit advantage in the polls. Current Mayor Eric Adams ended his re-election campaign last month, thus leaving only Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in contention.
Adams informed the press on Thursday that he plans to endorse Cuomo, roughly a month after previously labeling the ex-governor a “snake and a liar.” The potential effect of Adams’s endorsement on the mayoral race remains uncertain.