New York Mayor Eric Adams’ spokesperson confirmed he will travel to Mar-a-Lago on Friday for a pre-inauguration meeting with President-elect Donald Trump—who has said he is open to the idea of pardoning the Democratic leader who has been indicted on federal corruption charges.
New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the media in New York.
Adams’ meeting—which was not part of his official schedule—was first reported by the New York Times on Thursday evening.
Citing an unnamed spokeswoman, the report added that the trip will be funded by the city because it has a "city purpose,” and no other city official will be traveling with Adams.
Adams’ spokesperson Fabien Levy later issued a statement confirming the meeting, saying the Mayor had “made quite clear his willingness to work with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on behalf of New Yorkers.”
The statement said Adams would “sit down with President-elect Trump and discuss New Yorkers’ priorities,” on Friday.
Trump and his aides have not yet commented on the meeting, however, the President-elect has hosted several national and foreign leaders at his Mar-a-Lago residence since his election win.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
In September last year, Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery and fraud tied to illegal campaign donations he allegedly received from the Turkish government. The New York Mayor was charged with conspiracy to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals, soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery. A day before his indictment was unsealed, Adams delivered a defiant statement on video saying, “These charges will be entirely false, based on lies.” Adams dismissed calls for him to resign and said the people of New York “elected me to lead this city and lead it, I will.” Adams also implied he was being wrongfully persecuted, saying: “I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became.”
Since Trump’s election win in November, the Democratic mayor has repeatedly expressed his willingness to work closely with the President-elect. In December, Adams met with Trump’s “border czar” appointee, Tom Homan, at his official residence, Gracie Mansion. In a press conference after the meeting, Adams said: “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers.” Adams also said he and Homan share the “same goal” that “We cannot allow dangerous individuals to commit repeated violent acts of violence in our cities across America.”
Since Adams’ indictment, Trump has spoken positively about the New York mayor several times. In his speech at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in October, where Adams was also in attendance, Trump cracked several jokes about the New York Mayor’s indictment, before adding: “I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the D.O.J. for speaking out against open borders…I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.” In a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in December, Trump responded to a question about whether he would consider pardoning Adams by saying, “Yeah I would, I think he was treated pretty unfairly.” The president-elect, however, added that he had not seen the specifics of Adams’ case.
In a post on X, former New York City comptroller Scott Stringer—who has also declared a run for the 2025 mayoral election—wrote: “Who is this meeting for, New Yorkers or Eric Adams? Our city has too many problems right now for us to worry about if he’s fighting for New Yorkers or a hypothetical pardon for himself.”
Eric Adams Heads to Mar-a-Lago to Meet With Trump (New York Times)
Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Fraud Over Alleged Campaign Donations From Turkey (Forbes)