New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with Donald Trump on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, amid speculation that the president-elect could pardon him on federal corruption charges.
Adams said after the meeting that they discussed "a number of issues" but that the topics did not include his indictment.
"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," Adams said in a statement.
A Trump transition spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening about the meeting.
Adams spokesperson Fabien Levy wrote in a post on X Thursday that the mayor has made clear his "willingness" to work with Trump and his incoming administration "and that partnership with the federal government is critical to New York City’s success."
The New York City mayor has signaled that he wants to work with the Trump administration, especially on immigration and border security, after his city struggled to address an influx of migrants in recent years. Adams met with incoming border czar Tom Homan in December.
“His goal is the same goal I have,” Adams said at a press conference following his meeting with Homan. “We cannot allow dangerous individuals to commit repeated violent acts of violence in our cities across America.”
A few days after that meeting, Trump suggested that he would be willing to pardon Adams, who was charged by the federal government in September with bribery and wire fraud as part of a scheme that spanned nearly 10 years.
“Yeah, I would, I think that he was treated pretty unfairly,” Trump said, adding that he didn't know the “gravity” of the case but that the allegations didn't seem fair. “I mean, I’d have to see it, because I don’t know the facts.”
Adams has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The mayor told NY1 last week that he would like to attend Trump's inauguration, which takes place Monday.
