Mayor Eric Adams refused to answer a question about former President Donald Trump. 

What You Need To Know

  • During his weekly question-and-answer session with reporters, Mayor Eric Adams refused to answer questions related to defending former President Donald Trump

  • Adams doubled down on not calling Trump a "fascist" and called questions related to the topic "silly" and "insulting" 

  • The mayor's defiance on Trump comes as he remains under indictment and with one week to go until Election Day

“When was the last time you spoke to Trump or his team? Give me another question, please. You lost your opportunity. Give me another question, please," Adams said Tuesday.

The exchange was one of several at Adams’ weekly question-and-answer session with reporters, where the mayor, a Democrat, declined to disavow Trump, the Republican nominee for president.

“With all that is going on with everyday New Yorkers, we’re asking questions that is someone a fascist or is someone Hitler. That’s insulting to me. That is insulting,” Adams said. “I just find it humiliating that what everyday mom and pops are doing and going through across this country that here we are having this conversation about this silly item. So I refuse to participate in that.” 

Adams' defiance on Trump comes with Election Day just a week away.

Facing a federal corruption indictment, the mayor has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris but didn’t mention her by name on Tuesday. 

“I've made it clear on who I endorsed for president, and I'm not going to do an annual endorsement refresher. I've made it clear. And if anything changes, I will tell you nothing has changed for that," he said.

When asked directly about whether his public defense of Trump is with the hopes of a pardon like some have speculated, including City Comptroller Brad Lander, Adams said, “Lander. Oh, he’s the moral authority of life. Listen, next question.” 

Adams has denied he is angling for a presidential pardon. 

Lander is a progressive Democrat and political foil to Adams. He is also one of six declared candidates who is running against Adams in the primary for mayor in 2025.

Lander responded to the mayor on Tuesday with a post on social media platform X that read, in part, “He can find his 'moral authority of life' wherever he likes. I’m just running to replace him as mayor."

Adams on Tuesday even refused to disavow Trump’s policies, such as his plans for mass deportations if reelected president. The mayor deflected the question instead. 

“This is a sanctuary city, something that I advocated for, those who commit illegal actions in the city. I don't believe they should be able to remain here after they serve their time. So I've been clear. I said this over and over again. But other than that, I'm not entertaining any hypotheticals," he said. 

The mayor plans to vote in the general election in Brooklyn and says he will spend the night with his son. 

“Probably just hang out with Jordan and we may go to one or two watch parties, but he and I may just sit down and just hang out and just smoke a cigar," he said.

Adams is next expected in court on Friday, where a federal judge will hear oral arguments on whether to throw out bribery charges in the case.