Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is turning his frustration toward his own party after Democrats’ bruising 2024 election loss, accusing party leaders of ignoring former President Joe Biden’s declining condition until it became politically impossible to hide.
Last year, Cuomo lost a heated Democratic primary for New York City mayor against upstart Zohran Mamdani.
Speaking Sunday on WABC radio’s The Pulse of the People, Cuomo said Biden’s disastrous debate performance during the 2024 campaign exposed concerns that many Democrats privately acknowledged but publicly dismissed for months.
“[Biden] got on the debate stage, and it was obvious to everyone,” Cuomo said. “You didn’t have to be a psychiatrist or a medical professional to realize he was not up to the job.”
Cuomo’s comments followed the release of a draft Democratic National Committee review examining why Democrats lost the White House in 2024 after Biden exited the race and former Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee.
The report, written by Democratic strategist Paul Rivera, reportedly faulted Biden allies for failing to build support for Harris before Biden stepped aside.
Cuomo argued the report avoided addressing what he described as the central issue of the campaign: Biden’s health and fitness for office.
“Where was everyone? Where was the Democratic Party? Where was the chief of staff? Where were his strategists?” Cuomo said. “The man was incapable of doing another four years.”
The former governor also criticized prominent Democrats who continued to defend Biden publicly after concerns intensified following his debate with President Donald Trump.
Cuomo specifically referenced Democratic officials and allies who insisted Biden remained energetic behind closed doors.
“They kept saying he was ‘full of energy,’ he’s doing ‘push-ups,’ he’s doing ‘jumping jacks,’” Cuomo said before adding, “Come on, you fooled nobody.”
The remarks add to a growing internal Democratic debate over whether party leaders misled voters about Biden’s condition during the campaign. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the race, several Democratic strategists and elected officials faced criticism for standing behind the president despite mounting public concern over his age and stamina.
Cuomo also backed criticism aimed at Harris’ handling of immigration issues while serving in the Biden administration. Republicans repeatedly labeled Harris the administration’s “border czar” during the campaign, a line of attack Democrats struggled to counter as border crossings remained a major political liability.
“The border policy was terrible,” Cuomo said during the interview.
He argued that by the time Harris became the Democratic nominee, many voters associated her primarily with the administration’s immigration struggles rather than any broader accomplishments.
“What’s the federal government plan? There was none,” Cuomo said. “That’s not addressed. What did the Biden-Harris administration do for the country? That’s what it’s about.”
Cuomo added that voters ultimately wanted tangible results from the administration and believed Democrats failed to deliver them.
“[Americans] want results,” Cuomo said. “That’s what they didn’t get.”
The criticism is notable coming from Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations he denied. Although Cuomo remains a divisive figure within the Democratic Party, his comments reflect broader tensions among Democrats still grappling with the fallout from the 2024 election and Biden’s late exit from the race.
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