NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home Friday in Florida.
Adams’ team says he and the president-elect will be discussing “New York priorities,” but the mayor’s opponents within his party claim he has an ulterior motive: a pardon for himself.
Adams-Trump meeting not a surprise
First, it’s not a surprise Adams sought and was granted the meeting with Trump. Throughout his term, the mayor made a practice of meeting with everyone from President Joe Biden to gang members. He has said partnering with the federal government is critical to New York City’s success.
“We want to engage early,” Adams said in the days leading up to the meeting. “We’re going to sit down, reach out and want to sit down with him and talk about some of our vision for the city.”
Adams’ comments came as he disclosed First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and others were talking with the Trump team to arrange the face-to-face sit down.
According to Adams’ schedule, he flew to Florida on Thursday and is expected to meet with Trump at 1 p.m. Friday.
“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,” the mayor’s office said in a statement Thursday. “Tomorrow, Mayor Adams will sit down with President-elect Trump and discuss New Yorkers’ priorities. The mayor looks forward to having a productive conversation with the incoming president on how we can move our city and country forward.”
An Adams spokesperson said the mayor wants to talk about a range of priorities, including border security, potential cooperation with federal agents on the deportation of migrants who commit crimes, transit and education aid.
“In my conversation with [Trump], he’s been clear that he wants to help New York and New Yorkers,” Adams said.
Adams’ opponents see an ulterior motive
Still, Adams’ political opponents see a darker motive. They believe the mayor is seeking a pardon either before or after his trial for corruption charges.
“Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump. New Yorkers deserve to know that their Mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own – and whether our tax dollars, or Turkish Airlines, will be financing his trip to Florida,” City Comptroller Brad Lander, a Democrat trying to unseat Adams, wrote on X.
“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,” Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller and another Democrat running against Adams, also posted on X.
Trump seemed to give rise to the possibility of pardoning Adams when he spoke about the mayor at the Al Smith Dinner in October.
“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,” Trump said.
It was not immediately clear if Trump would be making any promises during his meeting with Adams.
Preparations for Trump’s Inauguration Day
The Adams-Trump meeting comes as Washington, D.C. prepares for Monday’s presidential inauguration and the transfer of power.
Trump’s ceremony was moved indoors due to freezing temperatures. Security is also be priority, especially given the two assassination attempts on Trump last year.
Approximately 25,000 law enforcement officers and military personnel will be there, along with 7,800 National Guard members. Pilots have been flying over the National Mall, scanning for radiology or nuclear irregularities on the ground, and there is a so-called “ring of steel” with 30 miles of anti-scale fencing around the city.
With all of these measures in place, authorities say they will be ready for the 250,000 ticketed guests. Those expected to attend include billionaires, tech CEOs and celebrities, along with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses. Trump notably skipped Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
Trump’s inauguration comes just days after two other major national security events — the Jan. 6 electoral count and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
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