With His Federal Trial Looming, Eric Adams Dines With Trump

NEW YORK — In Eric Adams’ telling, his jaunt to Florida to meet with President-elect Donald Trump had everything to do with weighty policies and nothing to do with the New York City mayor’s legal case.

“President Trump and I had a productive conversation about New York’s needs and what’s best for our city, and how the federal government can play a more helpful role in improving the lives of New Yorkers,” Adams said in a prepared statement released Friday evening, several hours after the meeting.

The mayor — a Democrat more at ease with New York Republicans than many members of his own party — said he and Trump talked about the Middle East cease-fire deal, manufacturing jobs in the Bronx and infrastructure when they had lunch near Mar-a-Lago.

“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 added.

Joining them, according to The New York Times, were longtime Adams adviser Frank Carone, Trump’s son Eric and New York developer Steve Witkoff, whom Trump tapped as his Middle East envoy.

Federal prosecutors indicted Adams on five counts in September; he is set to go on trial in April in the bribery case. Once Trump is sworn in Monday, he will have the power to pardon Adams or intervene in his case, something the president-elect has said he is considering.

Adams abruptly jetted off to Palm Beach Thursday night after securing the sitdown with the president-elect.

At that meeting, according to Adams, the group discussed how the Middle East accord, which is set to take effect Sunday, would benefit stateside public safety.

“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 said in his statement. “I thank President Trump for his time and attention and look forward to working with him to benefit all New Yorkers.”

The reception back home was less cordial.

Adams’ opponents in the upcoming Democratic primary characterized his trip as a desperate effort to obtain clemency. And Al Sharpton has suggested the closer Adams gets to Trump, the less appealing he will become to his core base of Black voters.

Friday’s confab caps a long run of Adams overtures and commiseration over their respective legal cases.

The big-city mayor steadfastly avoided Trump critiques during the presidential campaign, even as he publicly blasted President Joe Biden on immigration policy. And both he and Trump have cast themselves as victims of a politicized Department of Justice.