Mayor Eric Adams on Friday refused to rule out becoming a member of the GOP as he readies himself for a re-election bid amongst a crowded subject of Democrats.
The Democratic mayor, who was beforehand a member of the Republican Social gathering from 1995 by means of 2002, left issues open-ended throughout two interviews.
“Would you ever consider rejoining the GOP?” Adams was requested throughout his first sit-down of the day with NY1.
Hizzoner responded, “The occasion that’s most vital for me is the American occasion.
“I’m a part of the American party. I love this country,” Adams mentioned.
When requested throughout a later interview on Pix11 to make clear his feedback, Hizzoner doubled down, saying that it doesn’t matter what occasion he’s with, he desires to “support American values.”
Nonetheless, he indicated that for now, he’s staying with the Dems.
“I am going to run for my re-election as a Democrat, but my focus is the America people and the people of New York City, and those who don’t like it, they will cancel me, and I say, ‘Cancel me,’ ” Adams mentioned.
Not like most Democrats, Adams has averted criticizing GOP President-elect Trump and has as a substitute talked about working with the incoming White Home administration, saying voters need their leaders to “stop squabbling.”
As Trump heads again into the White Home, Adams has additionally praised the cost-cutting agenda of MAGA magnate Elon Musk and mentioned that he desires to work with the Republican to deport migrants who’ve been accused of crimes.
Adams is predicted to take a seat down with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan subsequent week as town prepares for a large shift in its immigration coverage.
If Adams switches events once more, he wouldn’t be the primary Large Apple mayor to take action.
Michael Bloomberg was a lifelong Dem till 2001, when he turned a Republican and ran for mayor.
He then turned an impartial in 2007 earlier than once more registering as a Dem in 2018.
Adams was indicted in September on federal corruption costs and is predicted to go on trial in April.
Some pundits have questioned Adams’ alleged pro-GOP motives as a solution to win favor with Trump and get a presidential pardon after the president-elect takes workplace — a notion Hizzoner has repeatedly declined to touch upon when requested by The Publish.
Democrats working towards Adams within the major in June have been fast to answer his feedback Friday.
“Instead of playing footsie with the next President, we need a Mayor with the courage to stand up for our city,” mentioned progressive state Sen. Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn in an announcement.
Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander quipped to voters that he himself has “ruled out switching to the Republican Party.”
Queens state Sen, Jessica Ramos mentioned on X that she is comfortable the mayor is “lastly being trustworthy about being a Republican.
“But then he should just run as one and let the Democrats pick a real leader,” she mentioned, including that it wouldn’t be the primary time she “unseated a Trump Democrat,” referring to the late former state Sen. Jose Peralta.
In the meantime, Israel foe and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani mentioned Adams’ feedback have been to “serve his own narrow self-interests.”
Scott Stringer, who’s exploring a mayoral run, delivered a barb saying Adams’ authorized issues are “actually trumping the priorities of New Yorkers.
“The sad fact of this mayoralty is that a presidential pardon would be considered his greatest accomplishment,” Stringer mentioned.
