New York Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday that former President Donald J. Trump should not be called a “fascist” or compared to Adolf Hitler, on the eve of Trump’s inauguration and the final days of the 2024 campaign. This would be a rejection of the Democratic Party’s ultimate goal. Trump’s rally in midtown Manhattan.
The embattled mayor, who has been indicted on federal bribery and corruption charges, made the comments as Trump seeks to expand support among black voters, especially black men, in his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris. . Democratic Party candidate.
Ms. Harris has said in recent days that she agrees with Mr. Trump’s former chief of staff, Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, that he fits the definition of a fascist. Kelly also said Trump admires Hitler.
Mr. Adams, the mayor of America’s largest city and one of the country’s most prominent black congressmen, briefed reporters on his security plans ahead of Mr. Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. When asked if he thought the former president was a fascist.
“I’ve had words like Hitler and fascist thrown at me by some political leaders in the city,” said Adams, a former police officer. “My answer is no. I know what Hitler did and I know what a fascist regime is like.”
He added: “I think we can all lower the temperature.”
Adams said he has heard people say, “The former president shouldn’t hold a rally at Madison Square Garden.”
“I strongly disagree,” he said. “This is America, this is New York, and I think it’s important that individuals are able to exercise their right to clearly communicate their message to New Yorkers.”
Adams said the city is prepared to ensure a “peaceful” gathering amid concerns about protests.
“I think we need to be very careful about the heat today. It should be the heat we have to govern before the election,” he said. “And I think we need to show a level of civility in communication.”
In the final stages of the campaign, Harris cited people who worked with Trump to argue that Trump was unstable and unfit for office.
Trump praised Adams last month shortly after the charges against the mayor were dismissed. Trump, who has been indicted four times in the past two years and was found guilty of falsifying business records in a Manhattan trial earlier this year, said the charges were politically motivated as Adams had criticized the Biden administration. he suggested.
If Trump wins the 2024 election, he would be in a position to pardon Adams in a federal lawsuit.
“I didn’t like it when people called me technical terms like fascist,” Adams said. “And I don’t think it’s appropriate for anyone to say that the former president is the equivalent of Hitler.”
“I think this is the city with the largest Jewish population,” the mayor said. “Antisemitism is on the rise across the country. We will do everything we can to push back against that level of anti-Semitic atmosphere and anti-Semitic issues that we face in our city.” There is a need.
Mr. Adams was cautious in his comments about Mr. Trump. He criticized President Biden over the immigration crisis, which has become a political embarrassment for the mayor as thousands of illegal immigrants arrive in New York.
Adams declined to answer a reporter’s question about whether he had contacted the Trump campaign about the rally or other issues.
