US President Donald Trump has said he thinks Democrat Zohran Mamdani is likely to become New York City's next mayor unless two of the three major candidates running against him drop out of the race. But the Republican didn't say which two candidates he'd like to see quit.

Trump said 'No' when he was asked by a reporter on Thursday night if he'd urged or encouraged any of the candidates in the race to drop out, but went on to say he would like to see that happen. 'I don't think you can win unless you have one-on-one, and somehow he's gotten a little bit of a lead,' Trump said of Mamdani.

'I have no idea how that happened.' The president, who spoke as he hosted a dinner at the White House with tech executives, went on, 'I would like to see two people drop out and have it be one-on-one, and I think that's a race that could be won.'