A spokesman for Cuomo tells PEOPLE the former governor does not actually believe Mamdani would celebrate a terrorist attack

“I’d go half-and-half,” Cuomo said, trying to appeal to both sides. Laughter erupted inside the room as Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa, the republican nominee in the debate, both threw their hands up.

Andrew Cuomo laughed Thursday at the suggestion that his mayoral election rival Zohran Mamdani would be “cheering” over another 9/11, sparking outrage from Democrats. The former

Speaker after speaker at Sunday’s rally said electing Mamdani would essentially serve as an opening salvo in a fight to take back the country from Trump and his allies.

The candidates faced off in a final mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens.

The tribe has spoken… and they’re voting Andrew Cuomo off the island. Several recent “Survivor” contestants — including Teeny Chirichillo (Season 47), Yam Yam Arocho (Season 44) and Katurah Topps (Season 45) — have returned to tribal council to advocate for Zohran Mamdani in a new campaign advertisement paid for by the New York City

The "Real Time" host also said Zohran Mamdani was born in a country "where they kill homosexuals" and brought up the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Bloomberg / The race has been followed nationwide in large part due to the 34-year-old candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist. "Mr. Cuomo, in 2021, 13 different women who worked in your administration credibly accused you of sexual harassment,