NYC Mayor Eric Adams meets with Trump, says they didn't discuss legal case

New York City Mayor Eric Adams met Friday with President-elect Donald Trump, the mayor’s office announced, and Adams said his criminal case didn’t come up but city business did.

The meeting was at Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida.

"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," a statement from Adams' office said.

It added: "While we briefly touched on a number of issues, we specifically focused on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and how it will have a positive impact on public safety in our country; how we can bring manufacturing jobs back to New York, particularly in the Bronx; and how we can continue to make federal investments in New York City, especially when it comes to infrastructure."

Adams, in the statement, thanked Trump and said he believes there's much to partner on together.

“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. Like I’ve always done, I will take every opportunity possible to advocate for New Yorkers and our city."

Asked if the two discussed congestion pricing, Adams wouldn’t say and said he’d say more later.

Adams — who was indicted in September on corruption charges that he traded municipal favors and luxury travel for political contributions from foreign sources — has amped up his praise of Trump ever since. Trump has said he appreciates Adams’ words and said he’s open to issuing a pardon. Adams and Trump both have suggested that Adams was prosecuted in retribution for Adams' criticism of President Joe Biden's handling of the migrant crisis.

The announcement of the meeting came a day beforehand, in a statement by Fabien Levy, Adams’ communications deputy.

“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,” Levy said in the statement.

A reporter’s tweeted video from Florida said that Adams said he saw actor Sylvester Stallone and Adams described “how much I love his ‘Rocky’ series,” according to the tweet, by a New York Times reporter. Trump recently made Stallone and two others "special ambassadors" to Hollywood.

Adams' recent praise for Trump is a contrast with his past words.

In 2021, Adams said: "As always, Trump gets it wrong."

In 2015, he said: "Donald Trump is attempting to appeal to the darkest part of America. The mean-spiritedness, the hate mongering, the attempt to play on the fears of Americans."

And Adams also said Trump traffics in "idiot behavior" and "buffoonery" and his supporters have "hateful thinking and mindsets."

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.