Curtis Sliwa’s long-standing clash with Trump amid NYC mayoral race drama

Brace yourself for a Big Apple showdown that’s juicier than a street cart hot dog: Curtis Sliwa, the GOP’s pick for New York City mayor, is locked in a decades-old feud with President Trump, and it’s spilling into the campaign spotlight.

The crux of this story is a tangled web of personal history between Sliwa and Trump, marked by a lack of communication for over a decade, sharp public criticisms, and now Trump’s push for candidates to step aside in favor of a stronger contender against socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, with a clear preference for former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo over Sliwa.

Let’s rewind to 1986, when Sliwa and Trump first crossed paths at the New York State Conservative Party gala, both basking in honors and exchanging barbs about who’s the real conservative.

Early encounters and emerging tensions

“I said, ‘Don. You’re not a conservative,’” Sliwa recalled of that initial meeting, a quip matched by Trump’s retort. Well, turns out playful jabs can plant seeds of discord when egos this big are involved.

Over the years, there were moments of mutual respect, like when Trump appreciated Sliwa’s kind words about his work to save the city’s Veterans Day Parade. But harmony was fleeting in this duo’s dance.

By the time Sliwa took to the airwaves as a radio host and NY1 commentator, his satirical takes on political heavyweights, including Trump, started ruffling feathers. “I think a lot of those people, including Trump, didn’t appreciate my sense of satire,” Sliwa admitted. And who can blame them when humor cuts closer to critique than comedy?

Sharp criticisms and public spats

Their last known chat was on December 24, 2013, during a radio show guest spot by Trump, though Sliwa initially misremembered it as a 2004 interview tied to the indictment of John Gotti Jr. for Sliwa’s 1992 kidnapping and attempted murder. Either way, silence has reigned since.

Things got spicier in 2015 when Sliwa demanded Trump apologize for allegedly fudging an interview to back a false claim about Muslims in New Jersey celebrating 9/11. He even invited Trump to a “hummus summit” at a Paterson restaurant to hash things out, but Trump was a no-show.

Sliwa didn’t stop there, taking shots at Trump’s business bankruptcies and later, during Trump’s first White House term, calling him “manic depressive” in public remarks. If words were daggers, Sliwa’s arsenal was fully loaded.

Trump’s interference in the mayoral race

Fast forward to today, and Trump is sticking his nose into the NYC mayoral race, issuing an unenforceable deadline for long-shot candidates to bow out this week. His goal? Clear the field for the strongest opponent to socialist Zohran Mamdani.

Trump’s pick isn’t Sliwa but Andrew Cuomo, the former Democratic governor, whom he sees as the best bet in a head-to-head matchup. Reports also suggest Trump floated enticing job offers to Mayor Eric Adams, currently lagging in fourth place, and allegedly to Sliwa, though Sliwa denies any White House contact.

A source close to Trump’s circle called Sliwa “insane” for rejecting such an offer, while another insider noted, “Curtis doesn’t like Trump. Trump doesn’t like Curtis.” No surprise there—sometimes mutual disdain is the only glue holding a rivalry together.

Love-hate dynamics and endorsement doubts

Despite the bad blood, a source close to Sliwa described their dynamic as a “love-hate relationship,” with disagreements on local issues but no deep-seated hostility. It’s the kind of bond where you argue over dinner but still pass the salt.

Sliwa himself sent mixed messages about a potential Trump endorsement, suggesting it might do more harm than good to his campaign but adding, “If he were to endorse me, that’s fine.” Talk about playing hard to get—perhaps Sliwa knows a nod from Trump could alienate as many voters as it attracts in a city skeptical of populist flair.

As this mayoral race heats up, Trump’s meddling and Sliwa’s defiance highlight a broader clash of conservative visions in a city leaning hard into progressive policies. With Mamdani leading the charge for a socialist agenda, the right’s infighting might just hand him the keys to City Hall. Turns out, fractured loyalties can cost more than a bad satire sketch.