How Trump is trying to influence New York's mayoral race

Trump is eager to quickly consolidate New York City mayoral field from three major candidates running against Zohran Mamdani to a one-on-one fight.

President Donald Trump and his allies are eager to quickly consolidate the mayoral field in New York City from three major candidates running against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani to a one-on-one fight.

That effort, which spilled into public view last week, marks the latest episode in which the president has sought increased control and influence over the affairs of major U.S. cities — including Chicago and Washington, D.C.

But if the past week is any indication, it won’t come easily.

The New York Times and other outlets reported that close Trump advisers have contemplated how to get both New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa to abandon their bids, including by offering them jobs in the Trump administration. For Adams, opportunities under consideration included jobs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, while a specific post for Sliwa was not made clear, according to the reports. NBC News has not independently confirmed the effort.

Ahead of a Thursday dinner with tech executives, Trump told reporters that Mamdani, a state assemblyman who rose to prominence as an outer-borough socialist, was more likely to win in November if the field against him did not shrink.