Mayor Eric Adams affirmed his commitment to remaining in New York City’s mayoral election on Friday, dismissing rumors that he might accept a position in the Trump administration. The announcement came after reports surfaced that advisers to President Donald Trump had offered Adams roles, including at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Adams addressed the speculation during a press conference, calling former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo a “snake and a liar” and emphasizing his resolve to defeat rival Zohran Mamdani. “I am in this race, and I’m the only one that can beat Mamdani,” he stated. Wearing a polo shirt emblazoned with “Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York,” he pledged to serve another four years, declaring, “We can’t go backwards.”
The mayor denied claims he would visit the White House on Monday, instead vowing to campaign across New York’s five boroughs. “Those reports are wrong. I’m not. I’ll be moving throughout this city in the five boroughs that made me mayor in the first place,” he said. Adams reiterated his refusal to step aside despite repeated pressures, mirroring the resilience of everyday New Yorkers.
Sources told ABC News that Trump’s team has faced pressure from Republican donors in New York to intervene, fearing Mamdani’s potential victory in November. While some suggested former Governor Cuomo might be a stronger opponent in a one-on-one race, Trump reiterated his push for multiple candidates to split the anti-Mamdani vote.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old liberal state lawmaker and self-described democratic socialist, has drawn criticism from New York’s business community and parts of the Democratic Party. Trump criticized the crowded field, stating, “If he stays in, if you have more than one candidate running against him, it can’t be won.” Election Day is set for November 4.