Andrew Cuomo has Donald Trump to thank for catapulting him to international fame. The former New York governor gained legions of global admirers with his avuncular Covid-era press briefings, which contrasted favourably with the US president wondering aloud whether citizens might inject themselves with bleach. Fans dubbed themselves “Cuomosexuals”, and a solemn Cuomo graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Now, the scion of one of the Empire State’s most enduring political dynasties may find himself indebted to Trump once again.
Cuomo — who resigned in 2021 after a decade in the governor’s mansion amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment, which he strongly denies — is attempting to mount an unlikely comeback and become New York City’s next mayor. On Tuesday, the Democrat’s campaign was given an inadvertent boost when Trump’s Department of Justice reportedly responded to a referral from Republicans in Congress by opening an investigation into his justifications for New York’s pandemic response.