Cuomo Says Trump 'Better Have an Army If He Thinks He's Going to Walk Down the Streets' in NYC

Governor Andrew Cuomo fired back at Trump's recent federal funding-related targeting of NYC and other cities by reminding him how New Yorkers feel.

September 3, 2020

After Trump's targeting of New York City in a memo threatening the loss of federal funding, Governor Andrew Cuomo provided a scathing assessment of the former steak salesman's relationship with the people of the city.

Cuomo, per a New York Timesreport from Maggie Haberman and Jesse McKinley, said during a Wednesday evening conference call with reporters that Trump's targeted messaging—which he condemned as "cheap" and "illegal"—was merely his latest attempt at killing NYC.

"Everything that he could possibly do in his power to hurt New York City he has done," Cuomo said. "The best thing he did for New York City was leave. Good riddance. Let him go to Florida. Be careful not to get [COVID-19]." Cuomo added that Trump "better have an army if he thinks he's going to walk down the street in New York."

A separate Politicoreport from Bill Mahoney added additional transcript bits from Cuomo's call, including "[Trump] can't have enough bodyguards to walk through New York City" and a vow that actual New Yorkers will "never forget how gratuitously mean" Trump has been to them and others:

The Trump threat in question saw the failed pandemic responder describing New York City and other areas as "anarchist." Portland, Seattle, and others were also targeted in the memo.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that Trump's 2020 opponent Joe Biden had bagged nearly 100 endorsements from Republican and independent leaders. Among those backing Biden, despite being Republicans, are ex-governors of New Jersey and Michigan.