Trump sympathy for NYC Mayor Adams' federal indictment sparks tough questions, not many answers

NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams, asked Tuesday if he would disavow supportive comments about his federal indictment made by former President Donald Trump at the Al Smith dinner, said that New Yorkers need to look at the issues — and told reporters they were “wasting” his time with too many Trump-related questions.

“I’m just not going to get back and forth on comments that are made on both sides,” Adams said at his weekly press briefing Tuesday in response to a question about what he made of the Republican candidate’s statements.

The GOP presidential nominee has twice made remarks in support of Adams in the past month, repeating claims that both men had been victimized by a politicized Justice Department.

At last week’s Al Smith dinner, Trump encouraged the mayor: “We were persecuted, Eric. You’re gonna win, Eric.” And in another instance just hours after Adams’ charges were made public late last month, Trump called the Justice Department “dirty players” for indicting the mayor and compared his own hush money case to Adams’ bribery and fraud case.

Asked about Trump’s first comments, Adams told reporters at the time: “I welcome support from every American, no matter where they are and who they are.”

Minutes after the first question about Trump on Tuesday, the mayor was again asked about the former president.

“He asked you point blank if you would disavow former President Donald Trump’s support,” a reporter pressed. “To me, it didn’t seem like you answered, and you said there were problems on both sides. So, just want to give you a chance to answer here.”

“He asked me point blank, point and I answered point blank,” Adams replied. “People need to vote on these issues that are important. I can’t make it clearer.”

Adams, whose relationship with the Biden White House weakened amid the mayor’s criticism of the president’s handling of the migrant crisis, endorsed Kamala Harris this past summer. He extended support on Tuesday, saying he attended the DNC and is willing to help the campaign.

“I was clear on who my candidate is,” Adams said.

Faced with additional questions about why he has been less outspoken about the possibility of Trump winning the presidency, Adams said he had already addressed the issue.

“I answered the Trump question already,” he said. “If anyone, if any of you, have another Trump question, you should save it, because I’m not wasting my time on that.”

The former president is slated to host a rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday — a move that has come under fire from other elected officials — but not from Adams, who said Tuesday that he plans to “meditate” that evening.

“You know, there’s so much energy going on now, we just gotta get into that peaceful mode,” Adams said. “Madison Square Garden, the entire city, I think it’s important that people exercise their right to vote.”