Eric Adams returns from the Trump meeting to a skeptical electorate

The New York Times

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams tried to appeal to his base of Black Democrats at a Martin Luther King Jr. event Saturday, one day after dining with a politician of whom they disapprove: President-elect Donald Trump.
The evening prior, Adams issued a statement saying only, “we did not discuss my legal case.” “I answered the question over and over again about my case,” Adams said at his press conference Saturday.
The city’s second Black mayor spoke to a receptive audience as he portrayed himself as a victim of a lifetime of persecution.
“I’m in a wait-and-watch-and-warning mode,” Sharpton said, cautioning Adams’ closeness to Trump risks him losing Black voters to former Gov.
In mid-November, he exchanged words with Trump at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New York City.

POSITIVE

New York — At a Martin Luther King Jr. rally, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City attempted to win over his base of Black Democrats. event on Saturday, a day after they had dinner with Donald Trump, the president-elect, a politician they dislike.

Several hours later, when asked if he discussed any part of his criminal case with Trump, who has the authority to pardon him, the federally indicted Adams evaded questions. Adams only stated in a statement the previous evening that “we did not discuss my legal case.”. “.”.

During his press conference on Saturday, Adams stated, “I repeatedly responded to the question regarding my case.”. I have a lawyer to take care of that. “”.

“People have the right to speculate if they so choose,” he continued.

During his remarks at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. event, the mayor hardly mentioned Trump. Al Sharpton hosted a day forum in Harlem. Rather, he cited the FBI’s investigation into the deceased civil rights leader and the prosecution’s decision this week to drop a bribery case against former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, a Black person.

The mayor used those circumstances to criticize the “politicizing of investigatory bodies” and to make the unfounded claim that a vengeful Department of Justice was targeting him.

As he presented himself as a victim of a lifetime of persecution, the city’s second Black mayor addressed an open audience. Additionally, he criticized the departing Biden administration, which is consistent with Trump’s stance, by complaining about the surge in migrants, which he claims cost New York $6.9 billion.

“I don’t care if it’s a socialist, Democrat, or Republican. The moderate Democrat, who criticizes the left wing of his party far more frequently than he does the GOP, declared, “I don’t care who the president is.”. Due to the fact that those are your dollars, I will defend this city. “”.

Almost all of the other speakers at the Democrat-dominated event warned about Trump’s agenda in a dire manner. Three miles from the location of Trump’s inauguration, Sharpton is planning buses for a rally in Washington on Monday to act as counterprogramming.

Polling indicated that Adams’ support among his base started to decline prior to his indictment, despite the fact that he won a competitive Democratic primary in 2021 with the majority of Black voters. 48 percent of Black voters, who remain his most ardent supporters, expressed approval of his job performance in a poll conducted in late 2023. This represents a notable decline from the majority that propelled him to office.

Civil rights activist and MSNBC host Richard Sharpton warned Adams against a president who promises to repeal diversity policies and deport undocumented immigrants, including those from African countries.

“I believe that he needs to exercise extreme caution,” Sharpton stated in a POLITICO interview. “Yes, he should meet with [Trump] as mayor, but it could be detrimental if he begins to appear to be a continuation of his political views. “.”.

Sharpton declined to inquire as to why Adams had met Trump in the vicinity of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Sharpton warned that Adams’ closeness to Trump puts him at risk of losing Black voters to the former governor, saying, “I’m in a wait-and-watch-and-warning mode.”. Andrew Cuomo, who is considering a bid for mayor. “I believe Eric needs to work his base. Additionally, I believe that nobody should take Andrew for granted. The name Andrew is well-known. His Black community has also been very supportive. “”.

“I would be getting ready to say goodbye if I were in a difficult situation and Donald Trump was the only person who could save me,” he recently told POLITICO. “.”.

According to The New York Times, Adams and his longtime advisor Frank Carone had lunch with Trump, Trump’s son Eric, and Steve Witkoff, the real estate developer in New York City and Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.

According to three people with knowledge of the matter who spoke to POLITICO, Carone, who left city government to start a consulting and lobbying firm, played a key role in organizing the conference. Since Carone owns a home in Florida and didn’t need any public funds for his travel, the mayor claimed on Saturday that his trusted confidante was present. The former city worker is an attorney as well.

Adams responded, “You don’t tell the president who he wants to sit down and talk with,” when asked why he didn’t go to the meeting with the city’s top officials. “He desired a brief discussion. “”.

Adams cited the general election results as proof that Americans want changes to the economy and immigration laws in response to Sharpton’s anti-Trump warnings. Additionally, he asserted that challenging the incoming administration is not beneficial for New York City.

Adams declared, “I pledge allegiance to the United States of America, not to a party.” What could be more clear? “Our city lost $6.9 billion to the [Democratic] party in power.”. “”.

Trump lost New York City to Kamala Harris 70-30, but he failed to mention that. Additionally, Adams is up against a primary electorate during an off-cycle year, when the most pious Democrats usually cast ballots.

For months, Adams had been wooing Trump.

While refusing to criticize Trump during the presidential campaign, the big-city Democrat was quick to attack Biden’s White House on immigration policy. Adams applauded controversial cabinet picks like Elon Musk after Trump won the general election.

He and Trump spoke at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New York City in the middle of November. At Gracie Mansion, Adams hosted Trump border czar Tom Homan last month, and the two talked about how the Trump administration is assisting in the revision of local “sanctuary city” legislation.

The mayor hinted that he might go to Trump’s inauguration on Monday on Saturday.

The city covered the cost of the trip because the mayor was on official business, speaking out for New Yorkers, according to Adams’ spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus. According to Mamelak Altus, the mayor stayed in a hotel rather than at Mar-a-Lago and took a commercial flight.

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