Troops not welcome in New York: Mayoral candidates all oppose Trump deployments
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President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to major American cities drew significant attention at Thursday night’s New York City mayoral debate.
During Thursday night’s debate, the candidates, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, were asked about the “threat hanging over the city” of sending National Guard troops to New York. All three candidates stated that they would oppose sending troops to the city.
“How would you react if the president now ordered troops onto the streets of New York?” a moderator asked.
“We don’t need the National Guard here in New York City,” Mamdani replied.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI STARTED A TOUR AGAINST TRUMP IN THE FIVE DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK CITY
From left, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participate in the mayoral debate on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
“If security were what President Trump was so worried about, he’d send them to eight of the ten states with the highest crime rates in this country. But he won’t because they’re all run by Republicans.”
“What New Yorkers need is a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually provide that security,” he added. “When Donald Trump sent ICE agents to people in Los Angeles, Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers didn’t need to overreact. That’s the furthest answer New Yorkers are looking for. They’re looking for someone to lead, someone to watch their back, someone who will actually fight for the people of this city.”
“The answer in the subways is not more National Guard. … More NYPD is the answer,” Cuomo said.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI LEVELS COUNTER-PROPOSAL AFTER CUOMO FORCES DEBATE IN 5 NYC DISTRICT
Members of the District of Columbia National Guard stand next to a MATV vehicle and scan the area while on patrol in front of Union Station in Washington on Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
He said Trump “didn’t send the National Guard to do a real mission. That’s control. That’s power.”
“He’s trying to say that Democrats don’t know how to run these cities, and by sending in the National Guard, he’s trying to say that it’s a political gesture,” he continued, adding that if Mamdani is elected, Trump will “take over New York. Forget the National Guard.”
Sliwa similarly said, “There is no need for the National Guard in New York,” adding that “there are other cities that could desperately use their help in dealing with the crime crisis.”
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Independent candidate former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) speaks during the mayoral debate with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa (center) and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
When asked to raise their hand on whether there were any circumstances that would allow the New York Police Department to cooperate with National Guard troops sent by Trump, not a single candidate raised his hand.
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With less than three weeks until Election Day, Mamdani holds a double-digit lead in the race for the nation’s most populous city, but Cuomo is narrowing the gap, according to the latest polling.
Mamdani has 46% support among likely voters, according to Quinnipiac University’s latest poll in the race. Cuomo received 33 percent support in the poll, while Sliwa received 15 percent support.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser, Andrew Mark Miller and Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
