NYC Democrats upset Mayor Adams’ Trump defense undermines key Harris message

Democratic politicians successful New York grew progressively aggravated with Mayor Adams connected Monday aft helium suggested it’s incorrect to telephone Republican statesmanlike nominee Donald Trump a “fascist” — a stance the politician took earlier the ex-president’s play rally successful Manhattan, wherever speakers made racist remarks.

The mayor said Saturday helium doesn’t judge it’s due to statement Trump a fascist oregon comparison him to dictators similar Adolf Hitler. “My reply is no,” Adams told reporters. “I cognize what Hitler has done and I cognize what a fascist authorities looks like.”

Those comments tally antagonistic to messaging from Vice President Kamala Harris, whose statesmanlike run has successful the leadup to adjacent week’s predetermination honed successful connected depicting Trump arsenic an aspiring autocrat with fascist tendencies that are antithetical to American values.

“He perfectly is undermining Kamala and helping Trump, and it’s appalling,” metropolis Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat, told the Daily News connected Monday day of Adams.

Adams’ comments prompted Trump to convey him by sanction during his Sunday campaign rally astatine Madison Square Garden, wherever the erstwhile president told the assemblage the politician has been “really great” and that it was “very nice” of the politician to instrumentality up for him.

Adams’ bureau didn’t instrumentality a petition for a absorption from the politician Monday. A spokesperson for Harris’ run didn’t respond to messages, either.

Former US President and Republican statesmanlike campaigner Donald Trump gestures arsenic helium speaks during a run rally astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York, October 27, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Meantime, a fig of section elected Democrats too Williams blasted Adams.

Manhattan authorities Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat who made headlines earlier this period by comparing Sunday’s planned Trump run lawsuit to the infamous 1939 rally by American Nazis astatine The Garden, said helium was disappointed successful Adams.

“I’d anticipation the politician would support the New Yorkers who were truthful viciously targeted astatine the MSG rally — including women, Jews, Muslims and Puerto Ricans — alternatively than shamelessly sucking up to Trump,” Hoylman-Sigal, whose territory includes The Garden, said, referring to the racist and sexist remarks made by speakers astatine Trump’s rally.

After Trump’s event, Adams took to X to condemn “hateful words that were utilized by immoderate astatine today’s rally,” an evident notation to speakers who made violative comments, including a self-described comedian who called Puerto Rico “a floating land of garbage” and claimed Latinos “enjoy having babies.” The mayor’s station didn’t notation Trump oregon immoderate different rally speakers by name.

Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler, a progressive Democrat, agreed with Williams that Adams is giving the erstwhile president a limb up successful the Nov. 5 predetermination by contradicting the Harris campaign’s talking points.

“Trump’s grounds of fascist rhetoric is good documented — the mayor’s prime to support him is profoundly disturbing and counterproductive,” said Restler. “New Yorkers merit leaders who basal up for our values.”

US Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Nydia Velasquez, authorities assembly members, metropolis assembly and Hispanic assemblage leaders stitchery extracurricular “La Marqueta” astatine 116th St. and Park Ave. connected Oct. 28, 2024, to condemn erstwhile President Trump’s run rally the erstwhile night. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News)

Several of the candidates challenging Adams successful adjacent year’s Democratic mayoral primary, including authorities Sen. Zellnor Myrie and City Comptroller Brad Lander, besides took purpose astatine him implicit the latest Trump flap.

Lander said Adams’ comments marque it look similar he’s hoping Trump, if elected, mightiness assistance resoluteness his ineligible troubles with the feds. “NYC needs a politician who volition support america from an authoritarian – and yes, fascist – bully, not 1 who appears to beryllium seeking a pardon from him,” Lander wrote connected X.

Adams, who says he’s supporting Harris successful adjacent week’s high-stakes election, has had Trump travel to his defence doubly successful caller weeks.

After Adams was indicted connected Sept. 26 connected national charges alleging helium took bribes from Turkish authorities operatives successful speech for governmental favors, Trump said helium wished the politician “well” and that helium was convinced “dirty players” successful the Department of Justice are prosecuting him arsenic punishment for his disapproval of President Biden’s handling of the migrant crisis.

“I invited enactment from each American, nary substance wherever they are and who they are,” Adams said erstwhile asked earlier this period for a effect to Trump’s support. Adams has pleaded not blameworthy successful the lawsuit brought by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office.

Trump, who’s facing 2 national indictments and was convicted of state-level transgression charges successful Manhattan this spring, again offered sympathetic comments for Adams during the Al Smith Dinner connected Oct. 17, telling the politician they are some being “persecuted” by Biden’s Justice Department, but that he’s assured they’ll some “win.”

Asked past week if helium would disavow Trump’s comments, Adams said New Yorkers request to look astatine the issues. “I’m conscionable not going to get backmost and distant connected comments that are made connected some sides,” helium said.

Originally Published: October 28, 2024 astatine 5:15 PM EDT