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Ex-President Trump has expressed reluctance about sending federal dollars to the city he grew up in of NYC in the event that progressive front-runner Mamdani secure victory this week's city leadership contest.

"It's gonna be hard for me as the nation's leader to allocate substantial resources to the city, because when there's a socialist governing America's largest metropolis, what happens is misusing the funds allocated there," Donald Trump remarked during a TV appearance.

Government's Funding Approach

The former president's government has consistently attempted to cut federal assistance and financial support for initiatives concentrated in Democratic-run areas.

Latest Polling Numbers

Opinion polls show the progressive candidate is leading of his primary opponent, ex- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on the eve of Tuesday's vote.

Financial Consequences

The former president provided no specifics on his remark about financial support in case the candidate win. New York City received $7.4 billion dollars (£5.7bn) in government money this fiscal year.

Political Comparisons

In a wide-ranging interview, the former president remarked that a Mamdani as mayor would make liberal ex- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio "appear competent".

"I witnessed de Blasio, how ineffective a city leader he was, and this man will do a poorer performance than the former mayor by far," the president commented of Mamdani.

Support Stance

Trump, who came of age in the urban area of Queens, also indirectly backed Cuomo, a Democrat, during the exchange.

"I'm not a supporter of Cuomo one way or the other, but if the choice is between a flawed Democratic candidate and a Communist, I would select the flawed candidate consistently, in all honesty," Trump said.

Candidate's Political Position

The candidate, who would run a international banking capital, is a self-identified democratic socialist, though he has disputed claims he is a communist, stating lightheartedly in a TV discussion that he was "comparable to a European socialist, only with more pigment".

Primary Results

Mamdani secured victory in the initial election, while Cuomo came second. The thirty-four-year-old elected official has described the ex- political figure a puppet and imitator of Trump.

"The answer to a Trump government is not forming its mirror image in municipal government," the candidate declared on the previous day.

Political Positions

The former governor has sought to parry that line of attack by portraying himself as the only candidate experienced enough to deal with the Trump administration.

He was NY's governor during the coronavirus crisis when numerous states disagreed with the White House, though Cuomo himself came under scrutiny after state investigators determined nursing home deaths were significantly understated during the crisis.

"I confronted Donald Trump," Cuomo said during a debate. "When I'm fighting for the state, I will not discontinue the struggle."

Government Measures

Trump has sent National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities as part of a crime crackdown, while working to withdraw financial support from municipalities that limit their collaboration with national immigration officials.