With keeping Trump out of NYC a key issue in the mayoral primary, here's where candidates stand

Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News on Jun 20, 2025

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NEW YORK — President Donald Trump has loomed large over this year’s mayoral contest, particularly as his administration has ramped up its mass arrests and deportations in New York, cut funding to universities and threatened a broad array of social and educational programs.

The stakes are high. Federal funds account for about $10 billion of the city’s annual budget.

With the Democratic primary for mayor approaching on Tuesday, the Daily News is breaking down some of the key issues for voters and where each candidate stands on them.

Here is what the top contenders have said about Trump on social media, in interviews, during debates and as part of their formal policy plans. We have included the top seven candidates who met the fundraising thresholds to qualify for the second debate.

Adrienne Adams

Adams said she would stand up to the “lawless president” and his “cruel crusade against immigrant families,” and insisted New York would remain a sanctuary city that protects the immigrants’ rights. As Council Speaker, Adams led a legal fight to keep ICE off of Rikers. She has said if there is any common ground with the feds it’s probably infrastructure, “but I’m not holding my breath.”

Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo has presented himself as a time-tested bulwark against Trump who went toe to toe with him during his governorship. “He cannot win a fight with me as mayor of New York,” Cuomo said. He reiterated the need to protect immigrants and stand up to Trump, saying he is “attacking the foundation of democracy” and “must be opposed at every turn.” When it comes to potentially working with the Trump administration, Cuomo has said New York “needs meaningful partnership” with the feds.

Brad Lander

Lander promised to stand up for immigrant communities against “authoritarian attacks” from Trump, describing them as “the future of New York City.” If elected he said he would provide immigrants with the legal services needed for work authorization, ESL, job training and more. Lander was arrested by ICE agents in a lower Manhattan courthouse on June 17 while observing immigration proceedings. In his role as comptroller Lander has pushed back against the Trump administration on ICE raids, congestion pricing, the environment, Medicaid and SNAP cuts.

Zohran Mamdani

The Queens Assemblymember, himself an immigrant, has committed to “Trump-proofing” New York by strengthening its sanctuary city apparatus by beefing up legal support, ending cooperation with ICE and kicking them out of all City facilities. He has condemned Trump’s “authoritarian administration” and described its deportation raids as “spit[ting] in the face of the Constitution.”

Zellnor Myrie

Myrie has come out staunchly against Trump, describing him as a “bully” who should be stood up to “aggressively.” He has positioned himself as someone who will fight against dismantling of the Department of Education and mass federal firings. The son of Costa Rican immigrants, he said he would oppose immigrants being turned over to ICE without due process “with every fiber in my body” as mayor. “Right now, it’s hard to be hopeful about finding common ground on any issue with the autocrat in the White House,” he said.

Scott Stringer

The former comptroller did not mince words in a recent campaign ad where he described Trump as a “schmuck” and promising to tell him “where to stick it.” Stringer has touted his “SHIELD” plan to make New York “a national model for municipal resistance to MAGA extremism” and vowed to defend immigrant communities from ICE.

Whitney Tilson

Tilson said he was “appalled” by the Trump administration’s terrorization of immigrant communities and that he would fight him “tooth and nail.” He “strongly” supports New York’s original sanctuary city law and would not cooperate with the federal drive to deport millions of people across the country. He is, however, critical of legislation passed by the City Council in recent years that closed the ICE office on Rikers, saying the measure “went way too far and should be repealed.”