Trump backs Constantino in NY-21 race

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has endorsed Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino in the Republican primary for the 21st Congressional District, backing Constantino over Assembly Member Robert Smullen.

Constantino has embraced the MAGA movement, frequently wearing “Make America Great Again” hats at campaign appearances and erecting a massive “Vote for Trump” sign on top of a building at Sticker Mule headquarters in 2024.

In an endorsement posted on Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon, Trump cited the sign in his message supporting Constantino.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Anthony Constantino, who is running to represent the fantastic people of New York’s 21st Congressional District,” Trump wrote. “Anthony is strongly supported by many of the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in our Movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone! Anthony has been such a Great Supporter that he actually put up a somewhat “controversial” sign, against strong opposition, in my honor. The sign is still there!”

Constantino was endorsed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani earlier this month.

“Anthony Constantino has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from New York’s 21st Congressional District — HE IS A GREAT GUY WHO WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote.

In the wake of the sign going up, Constantino faced backlash from city officials and was initially fined before suing the city, with Constantino claiming that Sticker Mule lost millions in revenue from anti-Trump customers boycotting the sticker company.

“I had a great talk with President Trump and am honored to receive his endorsement,” Constantino noted in a text on Tuesday.

Constantino and Smullen will face off in a June 23 Republican primary.

Smullen has received the endorsement of the local GOP establishment, receiving endorsements from 12 county Republican committees across the 21st District.

Both Constantino and Smullen have contended throughout the campaign that they are the more pro-Trump candidate, with Smullen noting that he was appointed by Trump in 2018 to serve on the President’s Commission on White House Fellows.

“I have the utmost respect for President Donald J. Trump and I am proud to strongly support his agenda to secure our border, rebuild our economy, and put America First,” Smullen noted in a statement after the endorsement was released. “As the only candidate in this race appointed by President Trump, I will continue to stand with him and fight for the policies that made our country strong. We are winning because we have earned the support of voters across NY-21 who want a proven conservative fighter. We are endorsed by law enforcement, labor, local Republican Committees, every Republican member of the New York Assembly, as well as the New York State Republican and Conservative Parties. That does not change – nothing about our campaign will change.”

The crowded NY-21 field to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik includes Smullen, Constantino and Democratic candidates Blake Gendebien and Stuart Amoriell, as well as independent candidate Christopher Schmidt.

Stefanik announced in December that she would not seek a seventh term in Congress. Stefanik has not issued an endorsement in the NY-21 GOP primary

Smullen has criticized Constantino’s company for selling anti-Trump stickers, with Constantino responding previously that the sticker company does not have a political filter for products sold by users on the Sticker Mule site.

Trump called Constantino a "successful entrepreneur and businessman” in his Truth Social post.

In his response to the endorsement, Smullen argued that he, not Constantino, is the true Trump Republican in the race, criticizing Constantino’s business record.

“Instead of growing American jobs, Anthony Constantino is replacing them with hundreds of robots and shipping other jobs overseas,” Smullen noted.

In 2025, Constantino erected a seven-foot Trump statue that he gifted to the president, with Constantino also purchasing 50 signed Trump hats for $25,000 on a recent trip to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

“In Congress, Anthony will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote.