Eric Adams to Tucker Carlson: ‘The party left me’

During an interview with far-right political commentator Tucker Carlson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams distanced himself from the Democratic Party and reiterated his claim that he was targeted by federal prosecutors because he criticized then-President Joe Biden’s handling of the migrant influx. 

“People often say, ‘Well, you know, you don’t sound like a Democrat, you seem that you’ve left the party,’” Adams told Carlson at one point. “No. The party left me, and it left working-class people.” The roughly 50-minute interview, which aired Tuesday evening, was filmed from Gracie Mansion and did not appear on the mayor’s public schedule.

Adams’ sit-down with Carlson is the latest in a string of recent decisions in which the mayor has faced criticism for seemingly appealing to President Donald Trump and deepening his ties with Republicans. Late last week, Adams traveled to Florida to meet with Trump, and on Monday he attended his inauguration, skipping local Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events. His interview Tuesday with Carlson, who is close to Trump, was no exception in drawing criticism.

The first swath of the amicable interview largely served as an opportunity for Adams to share his ire about his federal indictment and repeat his unfounded claims that it was politically motivated – as Tucker commiserated. (Adams described Carlson in 2021 as someone who “perpetuates racist, anti-immigrant propaganda.”)

Detailing some of his conversations with former Biden administration officials about the influx of migrants in which he asked for greater aid, Adams said he felt like there was more of a focus on the national election than on what the crisis was doing to cities. 

“Basically, be a good Democrat, Eric,” Adams recalled. “That was the basic overall theme.”

He claimed that one of Biden’s aides told him, “Listen, this is like a gallstone. It’ll pass.” The comment drew a laugh from Carlson. 

The mayor has pushed back on criticism and denied that his interactions with Trump are at all tied to the fact that the president has the power to potentially resolve his legal troubles as he faces federal bribery and corruption charges. (Trump has previously said he’s open to pardoning Adams.) Adams has continuously defended the more positive, open tone he’s taken towards Trump, arguing that as mayor, it’s important that he try and cooperate with the new administration for the sake of New Yorkers. 

“Mayor Adams does not believe we should be living in silos and speaking into echo chambers. At a time where our country is so divided, the mayor believes we must break out of our comfort zones and speak with everyone – even those we may not always agree with,” a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said in response to a question about the appearance. 

They also added “that sitting for an interview is not an endorsement of everything the interviewer has ever said. In fact, it’s often an opportunity to push back on the interviewer's beliefs.”