Mayor Adams mentioned he didn’t focus on his federal corruption case with soon-to-be president Donald Trump throughout their assembly in Florida on Friday — and he chided a rising refrain of fellow Democrats again in New York who’re blasting him for the sit-down.
Late Thursday, Adams’ workplace first introduced the mayor would meet with Trump to speak about “New Yorkers’ priorities” amid issues concerning the impression the incoming president can have on town because it pertains to key points like immigration and federal funding.
Many elected Democrats within the metropolis, progressives and centrists alike, questioned what the assembly would really be about as Adams — who’s going through federal corruption prices — hasn’t dominated out accepting authorized assist from Trump. In flip, Trump has brazenly entertained the thought of pardoning Adams for his alleged crimes.
After a roughly hour-long lunch assembly with Trump at his namesake golf membership in Palm Seashore, Adams issued an announcement Friday night wherein he mentioned they “briefly touched on a number of issues” however that his corruption case wasn’t one among them.
“To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn’t meet with the incoming president to discuss our city’s priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we’re from different parties clearly care more about politics than people,” Adams’ assertion learn.
Adams mentioned they did focus on the ceasefire settlement between Israel and Hamas, “and how it will have a positive impact on public safety in our country.” On a problem a lot nearer to residence, Adams mentioned he and Trump additionally talked about bringing “manufacturing jobs back to New York, particularly in the Bronx,” and openings for “federal investments in New York City, especially when it comes to infrastructure.”
“I will take every opportunity possible to advocate for New Yorkers and our city, and after our discussion, I strongly believe there is much our city and the federal government can partner on to make New York City safer, stronger, and more affordable,” Adams’ assertion added. “I thank President Trump for his time and attention and look forward to working with him to benefit all New Yorkers.”
Adams, a conservative Democrat who was a Republican, didn’t say whether or not he and Trump talked about immigration — a problem that has been particularly urgent for New York, which is residence to a whole lot of 1000’s of undocumented immigrants. Trump, who’s set to be inaugurated Monday, has vowed to launch mass deportation proceedings of undocumented immigrants throughout the U.S. and has even threatened to withhold federal funding from cities like New York if they don’t cooperate in his crackdown.
Adams used metropolis taxpayer {dollars} to pay for his Florida go to as his workplace mentioned there was a “city purpose” within the journey.
Adams, who has pleaded not responsible, is predicted to face trial in Manhattan Federal Court docket in April — simply weeks earlier than June’s Democratic mayoral main — on prison prices alleging he took unlawful marketing campaign money and bribes from Turkish authorities operatives in alternate for political favors.
Trump, the primary convicted felon to develop into commander-in-chief, has sympathized with Adams over his indictment, claiming, with out proof, that they’re each victims of politically motivated prosecutions launched by President Biden’s Justice Division. Final month, Trump acknowledged outright that he would take into account pardoning Adams as soon as he’s again within the Oval Workplace, and the mayor hasn’t dominated out accepting it.
All of Adams’ Democratic main challengers have torn into him for his Trump assembly, questioning what good may come from it for New York.
“The Trump agenda is not going to move the city forward,” Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, one among Adams’ challengers, mentioned in an look on WNYC radio Friday. “Trump has already told us some of the things that he wants to do, whether it’s cuts to our education, cuts to our health care or going after vulnerable New Yorkers. This mayor could not meet with the current president, President Biden, on the city’s priorities … But he has somehow made this a priority.”
Initially Revealed: January 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM EST
