New York mayor Eric Adams has flown to New York to meet President-elect Donald Trump in his Mar-a-Lago residence amid the growing threat to the Democrat politician’s re-election chances and a possible federal indictment against him.
Meanwhile, Mr Adams, who has vowed to cooperate with the incoming Trump administration, especially on efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, did not make any announcement before the trip.
However, his spokesperson, Fabien Levy, said the mayor had only the city’s interests in mind.
“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,” Mr 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,” he added.
Many members of the Democratic Party have been critical of Mr Adams’ perceived cosy up to Mr Trump, including his opponents in the upcoming Democratic New York mayoral primary.
“Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump,” said Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller. “New Yorkers deserve to know that their mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own.”
Another candidate in the primary, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, called the trip “a pathetic and embarrassing gambit by a disgraced mayor to keep himself out of federal prison, nothing more.”
