Indicted New York City mayor Eric Adams to meet with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago
NEW YORK − New York City's indicted mayor, Eric Adams, is going to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida on Friday, an Adams spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening.
“Mayor Adams has made quite clear his willingness to work with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on behalf of New Yorkers — and that partnership with the federal government is critical to New York City's success," Adams spokesman Fabien Levy said in a statement.
"Tomorrow, Mayor Adams will sit down with President-elect Trump and discuss New Yorkers’ priorities," Levy said. "The mayor looks forward to having a productive conversation with the incoming president on how we can move our city and country forward.”
Adams was indicted in September for federal bribery, fraud, and campaign finance charges, making him New York City's first mayor to be criminally charged while in office. The Justice Department alleges Adams did favors for the Turkish government in exchange for illegal campaign funds and free international trips. He pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing.
Trump has said he would consider pardoning Adams, a Democrat.
The Adams administration has seen two aides indicted on state and federal charges and the resignations of his closest City Hall appointees and a police commissioner after they were targeted by federal raids.
A falling out with Biden and warming to Trump
The Trump meeting marks the latest twist in Adams' constantly evolving political persona. A former police officer and former Republican who narrowly won the Democratic primary for mayor in 2021, he touted himself as the “face of the new Democratic Party” and claimed to be the "Biden of Brooklyn" after visiting with President Joe Biden in the White House.
He was critical of Trump at times, for instance complaining about Trump's presence in his city and attacking House Republicans for using the city to score political points about crime.
But his relationship with the Biden administration soured as New York City experienced a wave of migrants that strained city resources. The city has a legal right to shelter that requires it provide a place to sleep for anyone who needs it.
In 2023, after Adams blasted the "irresponsibility" of both parties in Washington for allowing the migrant surge and said Biden "failed" his city, he was removed from the Biden reelection campaign's national advisory council and dropped as a surrogate for the president.
Adams has suggested that his indictment is political retribution for his criticism of the Biden administration.
He has subsequently shied away from criticizing Trump.
Trump, who has claimed his own prosecution for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and for allegedly mishandling classified documents is politically motivated, has appeared sympathetic to Adams.
"We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric," Trump publicly told Adams at a charity dinner. Adams declined the opportunity to disavow Trump's support.
"Yeah, I would," Trump said at a December news conference when asked whether he would consider pardoning Adams. "I think that he was treated pretty unfairly."
Although he had endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Adams also declined to comment on Trump's controversial October campaign rally at Madison Square Garden.
Since Trump's election, Adams has said he wants to work with the president-elect. Last month, he met with Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan.