Former NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is facing backlash from Republicans after appearing in a lighthearted video with socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in which he administers a comedic “allergy shot” so the mayor can live with a cat in the official residence.

However, many Republicans reacted harshly. A GOP operative told the New York Post anonymously that Sliwa had “betrayed his family, betrayed the Republican Party, betrayed everyone.” Some donors reportedly requested refunds of their contributions after seeing the video. Former Governor David Paterson, a Democrat, also criticized Sliwa, saying, “You can tell when people are true to the party, and I thought it was reprehensible.”

Sliwa fired back at critics, noting that President Donald Trump had met with Mamdani multiple times without similar criticism. He also said the sketch marked the first time he had spoken to Mamdani since the election.

Sliwa has indicated he plans to run again for the Republican nomination for mayor in 2029. Paterson continued mocking Sliwa’s prior election performance, comparing his seven percent vote share to the New York Jets’ scoring.