Adams claims Biden administration told him to stay silent on migrants
Mayor Adams slams Democrats in interview
Mayor Eric Adams is facing backlash after an hour-long interview with Tucker Carlson, where he criticized the Democratic Party for abandoning New Yorkers and claimed the Biden administration urged him to stay silent about the city’s migrant crisis. Adams also defended his growing ties with GOP leaders, including private meetings with Donald Trump. FOX 5's Morgan McKay has the story.
NEW YORK CITY - New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing backlash following an hour-long interview with Tucker Carlson, where he criticized the Democratic Party for abandoning New Yorkers – also claiming the Biden administration urged him to stay silent about the city’s migrant crisis.
What we know:
In Tuesday's interview, Adams claimed the Democratic Party abandoned the working class. He also claimed the Biden administration told him to be silent about the migrant crisis.
Adams told Carlson that former President Joe Biden told him and his aides that he wasn't being a "good Democrat" as hundreds of thousands of migrants made their way to the Big Apple. When he refused, Adams says that's when charges against him were handed down.
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NYC Mayor Adams says Democratic Party 'left me, and it left working-class people'
In a sit-down interview with Tucker Carlson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that the Democratic Party has abandoned him, and that he has been punished by the party for his stance on the migrant crisis.
Adams also defended his growing ties with GOP leaders, including private meetings with President Donald Trump.
The mayor has been careful not to criticize Trump, saying he's going to hold off criticizing the president publicly in order to communicate any concerns with him privately. But Adams' deepening relationship with Trump and the GOP is raising eyebrows.
On Friday, Adams flew to Florida to meet with Trump privately. Then on Monday, Adams says he hopped in a car at 3 a.m. to drive to Washington, D.C. after being invited at the last minute to the inauguration.
What they're saying:
Carlson only focused on the bribery charge in his interview, but Adams is facing five federal charges, including for allegedly soliciting illegal campaign donations. The federal investigation into Adams also started before he was elected mayor. Adams has repeatedly insisted he's innocent and in the interview claimed the Democratic Party abandoned him.
"I said, Mr. President, I'm not sure what they're telling you about this problem, but this is a terrible problem that's playing out on the ground," Adams said. "One of his aides told me that, listen, this is like a goldstone – it'll pass. People often say well, you know, you don't sound like a Democrat, and you know, you seem to have left the party. No, the party left me, and it left working-class people."
The other side:
Adams has insisted he still plans to run as a Democrat in the upcoming mayoral election, but despite his recent actions and comments, many, including City Council member Crystal Hudson – who is considered a top contender to be the next council speaker – says that it's a Democratic Party in New York that is working to defend New Yorkers.
NYC prepares for potential ICE raids
The Pentagon is deploying 1,500 troops to the southern border as President Trump pushes forward with his mass deportation efforts. In New York City, migrants and local officials are bracing for potential ICE raids targeting schools, churches, and daycares. FOX 5's Jessica Formoso spoke with Commissioner Manuel Castro of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs about the city's sanctuary policies and what is being done to support undocumented immigrants.
"The City Council is doing everything in its power for working families, and we have a supermajority of Democrats in our body and Democrats across the ideological spectrum have voted for things like the Fair Act, which has eliminated broker fees, making it easier for people to move into apartments," Hudson said. "You know, I mentioned the pilot program putting cash into mom's hands, new moms who are facing housing insecurity."
One of Adam's closest allies, Reverend Al Sharpton, also expressed some criticism of his choice to go to the inauguration, saying in an interview that it definitely raises eyebrows and can lead many people to question what exactly Adams is doing.
The backstory:
When Mayor Eric Adams was running for mayor in 2021, he wrote on social media that he didn't need or want the support of Tucker Carlson, saying that Carlson is someone who perpetuates racist and anti-immigrant propaganda.