‘Did You Try?’ Dana Bash Calls Out Cutis Sliwa Over Excuse for Trump’s Refusal to Endorse Him in NYC Mayoral Race

CNN’s Dana Bash pressed New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa on Wednesday about President Donald Trump’s refusal to endorse him in the race.

Sliwa joined Bash on Inside Politics as the mayoral election reaches the home stretch before  into its Election Day. Sliwa is trailing both Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in polling.

Bash played Sliwa a clip of Trump speaking to Fox Business about his refusal to endorse anyone in the mayoral race.

“Is he really a Republican? Am I a big fan? This isn’t exactly ideal where he wants to make Gracie Mansion a home for the cats,” Trump said, referring to Sliwa saying he’d move his six cats into Gracie Mansion if elected.

“You are the Republican candidate for mayor of his hometown. He’s the Republican president. I know you are both New Yorkers who may have a history, but did you try to get his endorsement?” Bash asked Sliwa.

The Republican said he hasn’t tried and claimed Trump has bigger priorities than the mayoral race in the city he’s from.

He said:

No. Look, the president has bigger issues to deal with. Peace with Russia and the Ukraine, peace in Gaza — conflict has broken out again. We hope that he can clear the path for peace in the Middle East and Persian Gulf and with all the visits he’s making to Asia, dealing with the trade initiatives, especially with red China. Those are priorities. Getting involved in the mayoral race is only strengthening Zohran Mamdani because he wants to be David versus the Goliath. Andrew Cuomo wants to bump chests with President Donald Trump. You’re not going to win against the president. You’ve got to get money from the federal government to help the poor and the indigent.

Sliwa also hit back at Trump’s cats remark, citing his and his wife’s past work with rescuing animals.

“The president has made fun of the work that my wife and others have done in their life to rescue animals in distress. Mahatma Gandhi said, a society that does not take care of its animals, does not take care its people,” he said.

Sliwa has struggled to drum up major public support for his campaign, even quitting his WABC radio gig live on air recently after his own colleagues were pushing him to drop out to make way for Cuomo against Mamdani.

As Bash wrapped up her interview, she noted for Sliwa that though Trump is “very busy,” he’s found time to throw his hat into much less consequential debates than the New York City mayoral race.

“I just want to say that President Trump is a very busy man, but he’s gotten involved in things a lot less consequential than the mayor of New York City, but I take your point,” she said.

Watch above via CNN.