New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushed back Wednesday against reports that he was considering abandoning his reelection bid in exchange for a federal post, insisting he remains in the mayoral race.
The denial came after the New York Times reported that intermediaries for the Trump administration had approached associates of Adams, a Democrat running as an independent, to gauge whether he would be open to leaving the mayoral contest for a role in Washington. The Associated Press confirmed the outreach with a person familiar with the conversations, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of their private nature.
“Mayor Adams has not met with Donald Trump — don’t believe the noise. He is not dropping out of the race,” Adams’ campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, told the AP.
The idea, three people familiar with the talks told the Times, is aimed at undercutting democratic socialist front-runner Zohran Mamdani and boosting former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is also running as an independent, in the general election. The Times reported that discussions have also touched on finding a role for Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Newsweek reached out to the White House, Adams’ campaign, and the campaigns of other major New York City mayoral candidates for comment via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Trump has been a critic of Democratic Party front-runner Mamdani, but he has also had a complicated relationship with Adams over his handling of the large number of immigrants who arrived in NYC during the Biden administration. Adams, originally seeking a spot on the Democratic ticket, is now running for reelection as an independent candidate.
Associated Press
What To Know
According to the Times, the White House wants to give Cuomo a better chance of defeating Mamdani, who beat him in the Democratic Party primary in June. Multiple conversations have reportedly taken place, most recently in New York, to explore potential strategies for helping Cuomo secure the office ahead of the current front-runner.
Sources told the outlet that intermediaries of Trump had been in touch with Adams’ campaign to discuss the possibility of him dropping out of the race and taking on a role in Washington, D.C., although the specifics of the role were not clear.
Similar discussions had also taken place with Sliwa, the Times reported, but Sliwa denied this to Newsweek.
In a round of television interviews Wednesday meant to highlight his crime-fighting agenda, Adams instead found himself fending off questions about whether he planned to exit the race.
“If there’s any changes in this race, I will announce that,” Adams told Fox 5. “Right now, we’re moving straight ahead to do — No. 1, serve this city as we’re currently doing, doing a darn good job. And we’re looking forward to reelection.”
Adams has appeared steadfast in his commitment to securing a second term as New York City’s mayor, despite allegations of corruption and a lack of support within his own party.
As the mayor of the largest so-called sanctuary city in the U.S., Adams has come under fire from Republicans who see him as protecting illegal immigrants, while Democrats and immigrant advocates have claimed he has not done enough to ensure undocumented individuals are protected from immigration enforcement.
Adams agreed to work with border czar Tom Homan on the condition that immigrants who had not committed crimes could continue to access city services without fear.
What People Are Saying
NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, in a statement to Newsweek: “The White House has not contacted me, and I’m not interested in a job with the White House. My focus is right here in New York. I’m the only candidate on a major party line who can defeat Mamdani, and I’m committed to carrying this fight through to Election Day. The people of New York City deserve a mayor who truly cares.”
After spending Tuesday in Florida after his 65th birthday, Adams was asked by PIX11 whether he met with anyone from the Trump administration while there. The mayor would only say that he “met with several political figures,” including Miami’s Republican mayor: “I met with several political figures in Florida,” saying the trip was to “deal with some personal issues.”
Adams, in that same interview, pushed back against questions about whether he would exit the contest but added: “I’ve never had a problem finding jobs as I transition.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, on X: “Let’s be clear: Trump intervening in the NYC mayor’s race will be political poison to any candidate who benefits.”
Mamdani held a news conference in Manhattan on Wednesday, calling the reports “an affront to democracy”: “We know that this city will decide its own future. And we know that it is New Yorkers that we will turn to make that decision in November, not the White House in Washington, D.C.”
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether the plan will move forward, but the conversations have gained urgency as the high-profile mayoral race enters its final weeks, the Times reported.
Update 9/3/25, 3:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 9/3/25, 7:38 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and remarks. The headline was updated with Adams’ response to the reports.
