'I Wouldn't Accept His Endorsement': Cuomo Takes Hard Line Against Trump In Campaign Against Mamdani

Forbes Breaking News

At a press briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) said he would refuse an endrosement from President Trump.

Transcript

00:00Say that today.

00:01Can I clarify?

00:02On the Henry with PIX11, on the underlying premise of the reporting in the New York Times,

00:09that the president is thinking about weighing in, you yourself have said this needs to narrow

00:13between one of you and Mr. Mondani for someone to reasonably have a chance.

00:18So on the underlying premise, he's talking to your pollsters, he's talking to certain

00:21of your supporters, which was in the reporting.

00:24Would you welcome him weighing in to the extent that he clears the field for someone,

00:29and I assume you thought that would be you?

00:32Yeah, my theory is, look, first you're asking, what is the political calculation of the president?

00:38You're asking the wrong guy.

00:41But I would say Eric Adams is a wholly owned subsidiary, right?

00:48He went to a lot of trouble to establish the mayor of New York City is under his control.

00:55So if he put Adams in control, why wouldn't he want to keep Adams in control?

01:04Or I could see him saying, I want the assemblymen to win because politically I can make a lot

01:15of points with him politically as evidence that the Democratic Party has lost its mind.

01:22And I can then exert more control over New York City because I can say that he is unfit

01:30and there's a crime problem and the federal government could come in like it did on L.A.

01:34So I could argue both of those are more attractive.

01:40Or he could say, courtesy, well, who's the Republican, I'm going to try to make a Republican mayor.

01:48But you don't see him backing you?

01:49I think I have the least to offer.

01:54As I said, we had a contentious relationship.

02:02And I think from his political point of view, and again, you're asking the wrong guy, but

02:10if I were opining on his political point of view, the obvious political point of view,

02:16I would say I'm the last person he would want.

02:19Would you want to deal with me every day?

02:23You don't even like to deal with me in these press conferences.

02:27Can you remember?

02:29Senator, can you describe a lot for us?

02:34When was the last time he was going to come back to Trump?

02:37And would you welcome or have you asked for his help in this campaign?

02:43And if so, how do you square that with your messaging?

02:47You're saying that you're the only one who is equipped to defend New York City from Trump's attack.

02:53But here you're saying that you can work with him.

02:56And you told the business leaders that you don't want to take a fight with him.

03:00So how do you square that messaging with your previous statements saying you're the only one who can possibly say that?

03:08No, no.

03:09Let's be very clear, Gloria.

03:10I said what I said on day one as governor when he became president.

03:19To the extent he intrudes or invades on New York priorities,

03:28I will do everything I can to defend New York.

03:33And I have, and I did, and we won many, many important battles.

03:42He wanted the driver's licenses lists.

03:47So you could see all the undocumented people on the driver's license list.

03:52Because when we did driver's licenses for undocumented, it shows on the Department of Motor Vehicle list the name,

04:04and it says you're undocumented.

04:07They wanted that Department of Motor Vehicle list so they'd have in one place who's undocumented,

04:13their address and their picture.

04:15So it would be a phenomenal vehicle for the immigration enforcement.

04:22We had a war over that.

04:26And I would not give it to them.

04:28And they withheld funds, and they kicked us out of the Trusted Traveler Program,

04:32and I went down to the White House,

04:34and I had a war with the person who was in charge of Homeland Security in the Oval Office.

04:42Right?

04:42So we've had many, many battles, royale.

04:49And the president knows that.

04:52And that will never change.

04:57Sanctuary law, I will defend it with every ounce of strength.

05:02I also believe I'm in a much better position,

05:06and I'll be a much better advocate for New York than the assemblyman,

05:12who, frankly, is a rookie in all of this,

05:19and Mayor Adams, who basically signed on to Team Trump.

05:26So that's number one.

05:30At the same time,

05:32if there is a way to work with the president

05:37where New York City can be benefited,

05:40I would do that.

05:42You can't say, in my opinion,

05:44as a responsible official,

05:46either as governor or mayor,

05:48I'm not going to work with the president

05:50because he's a Republican,

05:51and I'm going to play politics,

05:54and therefore,

05:56I won't deal with him at all

05:58just because he's a Republican.

06:00That's a reckless, irresponsible,

06:03violates your oath of office.

06:06So that would...

06:08I didn't take that position either as governor,

06:11and I wouldn't as mayor.

06:13When you left Chris on the president,

06:15I wonder if you were asked to be with him,

06:16and would you welcome his help?

06:18I don't recall the last time I spoke with him.

06:21I left a message

06:22after the attempted assassination.

06:25I don't believe I spoke with him.

06:26I believe I left a message for him,

06:31and on this race,

06:34I'm running as an independent,

06:36and I'm not seeking anyone's support.

06:39I'm running as an independent,

06:41and I like my position,

06:44and I like where I am,

06:46and I'll stay where I am.

06:47Do you still have a question?

06:49No.

06:50Well, I've spoken to him

06:53probably hundreds of times, right?

06:58I don't remember the last time.

07:00No.

07:01Mr. Come on.

07:02Chris here has a question.

07:04Sorry.

07:04Just to try to narrow it down,

07:06have you spoken to Mr. Trump this year?

07:10I spoke to...

07:12The last contact was

07:14when I called to leave

07:16best wishes for the...

07:19attempted assassination.

07:21Got it.

07:22If...

07:24I wanted to ask a similar question

07:25to what Gloria just asked,

07:27but let me just clarify something,

07:29please.

07:29The New York Times reported

07:30that you have spoken

07:31to Donald Trump

07:33about the news.

07:34You're just...

07:34You're saying flat out that's false.

07:36That's false.

07:37That's false.

07:38Okay.

07:38Since it appears

07:41that Donald Trump

07:42is at a very least

07:43thinking about getting involved in race,

07:46what's the role you would want to do?

07:49Is it trying to push Eric out and go?

07:51Because who knows?

07:53First of all,

07:55I think this is all

07:56gossip and intrigue

08:01to no end.

08:03President Trump

08:04has got a lot going on.

08:07Why he's going to get involved

08:09in a complicated

08:10New York City mayor's race,

08:12I have no idea.

08:15From his point of view,

08:17as I said,

08:19he already

08:19has Mayor Adams

08:21as a subsidiary,

08:24work on his behalf,

08:25continue control of New York City

08:27through the mayor Adams

08:29or for political benefit

08:31help Assemblyman Mandami

08:35one way or the other

08:36because I could see

08:38the political benefit to that

08:39and I think he could then

08:40exercise more control,

08:42maybe even more control

08:44than Adams

08:45by saying,

08:46I have to come in

08:47to help New York City.

08:49There's a crisis.

08:49But that is my political speculation

08:52about what he would do.

08:55I don't know

08:56his political calculation.

08:58If he were to endorse you,

08:59would he be disavowed?

09:01I would not seek

09:03his endorsement.

09:05I wouldn't accept

09:07his endorsement.

09:08I will,

09:10and same as Governor,

09:12my position

09:12has been unchanged.

09:15I will defend New York

09:18against any policy

09:20that I think hurts New York,

09:22New York State

09:23or New York City,

09:23but I will put my hand out

09:26to work in any way

09:28that he could be helpful

09:29to New York State

09:30or New York City.

09:30that he could be helpful

09:34to keep going.

09:35So,

09:36I don't know

09:36what do I do

09:37want to do

09:38for this

09:39to be able

09:40to try

09:40to be a

09:41folk

09:41or

09:42to be able

09:44to be faithful.

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