Eric Adams chooses Trump

That Mayor Eric Adams’ last-minute attendance at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration would trigger criticism from his opponents is no surprise. But opting to take part in the Republican firebrand’s celebration raised the eyebrows of an ally who has stood by Adams even amid his own political troubles.

“I think it’s appropriate for all mayors to be invited to an inauguration,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said on Morning Joe on Monday. But given the speculation about whether Adams, who is facing corruption charges to which he has pleaded not guilty, is angling for a pardon from Trump, as well as his more positive tone about Trump, doubts may start to creep in, he said. “To say you’re not going to raise your eyebrows would be being dishonest,” Sharpton said. “I think that this will cause a lot of us to say, what is this all about?”

Adams, who hadn’t ruled out attending Trump’s inauguration and who also met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, nonetheless sent out a public schedule early Monday morning that included events for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New York City and no specified appearance in Washington D.C. Around eight hours later, City Hall sent out an updated public schedule and noted that Adams had received a last-minute invitation and was making an early morning trip to D.C. to attend.

“Inauguration Day is a sacred American tradition. Our country has been through so much, and every president has the honor and responsibility to protect and lead the American people,” Adams said in a post on X. “On MLK Day, like Reverend Dr. King said, we must put partisan politics aside to do what's best for our country. I believe there's much we can achieve working alongside the federal government as we support our city's values and fight for New Yorkers.”

That explanation didn’t satisfy many of Adams’ critics, including his opponents in the Democratic primary for mayor, who have frequently taken aim at his sidling up to the Republican president. “Imagine if Mayor Adams applied the same focus to making our city safer and bringing down our cost of living as he does to getting himself a pardon,” city Comptroller Brad Lander wrote on X.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams – a frequent critic if not direct opponent – seemed to address Eric Adams’ absence at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, Politico New York reported. “Some that should be here celebrating Dr. King with us in this room have chosen to go to Washington to celebrate felon 47,” Speaker Adams told the crowd.