New York City Mayor Eric Adams has an unlikely ally as he fights a Justice Department bribery indictment: Former President Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump threw his support behind the embattled mayor at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City, saying that both of them have been “persecuted” for criticizing the Biden administration over the migrant crisis.
“Mayor Adams: Good luck with everything,” Mr. Trump said in his speech at the Thursday night event. “They went after you, mayor. Nine-and-a-half months ago, I said, ‘He just said something bad about the administration, he’s going to be indicted any moment.’ And guess what happened.”
The Republican presidential nominee, who is fighting federal charges in two separate cases related to possession of classified documents and election interference, predicted that Hizzoner would emerge victorious.
Mr. Adams has pleaded not guilty to bribery, conspiracy and campaign-finance offenses for allegedly accepting illegal campaign donations and luxury travel from the Turkish government in exchange for official favors.
“But you’re going to win. I think you’re going to win. I know you’re going to win,” Mr. Trump said. “So good luck, good luck. I don’t like what they do.”
Mr. Trump roasted a number of Democratic political figures, starting with Vice President Kamala Harris, at the annual white-tie fundraiser for Catholic charities, but largely spared Mr. Adams.
“I’d like to poke some fun at Eric, but I’m going to be nice,” he said. “I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders. We were persecuted, Eric, I was persecuted and so were you, Eric.”
But the former president couldn’t resist one jab at the mayor, who follows a plant-based diet.
“The mayor’s dietary restrictions are well known, but I’ve got to say I’ve never met a person who’s a vegan who liked turkey so much,” quipped Mr. Trump.
A spokesperson for Mr. Adams shrugged off the former president’s comments, telling the Gothamist that “it is the Al Smith dinner. People make jokes — and no one takes them seriously. It’s all done in the name of charity and to raise money for a good cause.”
Mr. Adams has said he became a “target” of the Justice Department after publicly slamming the Biden administration over the influx of illegal immigrants into the city.
Ms. Harris skipped the event, becoming the first presidential nominee in 40 years to turn down an invitation, but she sent a video that featured her with former “Saturday Night Live” regular Molly Shannon.
The dinner hosted by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and emceed by comedian Jim Gaffigan raised an estimated $10 million.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.