Eric Adams and Donald Trump Have Established Back Channels. Activation Status Unclear.
Despite being a Democrat, the New York City mayor has many shared acquaintances with the former president.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has stated that he has not been in contact with former President Donald Trump. However, the beleaguered Democrat is connected to a broad network of friends and allies who do have ties to Trump.
Adams and Trump have shared overlapping spheres in New York City's political arena for some time. The mayor has mingled with, partnered with, and even employed local personalities, entertainers, and business figures who are closely associated with Trump, including a radio host who recently spoke at Adams' rally at Madison Square Garden.
These connections, coupled with Adams' increasing alignment with Trump over mutual concerns regarding the Department of Justice, have alarmed fellow Democrats, who fear that Adams could be positioning himself for a presidential pardon in the event of a conviction on federal corruption charges.
"You probably should have just remained a Republican if you wanted to be a MAGA for Trump," said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a fellow Democrat, referencing Adams' years as a registered Republican.
Adams rejoined the Democratic Party in 2002, citing his move across the aisle as a protest against party leadership, but he has continued to associate closely with prominent Republican figures in the city.
One such figure is conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg, who spoke at last weekend's Trump rally in Madison Square Garden. Rosenberg has frequently highlighted his relationship with the mayor, with whom he has dined on several occasions, sometimes accompanied by his wife. Adams was also a regular guest on Rosenberg's morning talk show.
"We all agree that it's in the mayor's best interest to buddy up to Donald Trump if, in fact, this thing gets worse," Rosenberg said, referring to the corruption charges against Adams and a president's ability to grant pardons or replace federal prosecutors. "And people do think that it's gonna get worse for the mayor."
Despite a recent falling out over the city's handling of pro-Palestinian protests, Rosenberg remains willing to serve as a bridge between Trump and Adams. "Would I sit down with Trump and Adams? Of course I would," he said. "In a heartbeat."
New York Democrats perceive Adams' hesitancy to criticize Trump as a potential strategy for clemency should Trump regain the presidency—a claim those close to the mayor deny. A spokesperson from City Hall indicated that Adams could not recall any communication with Trump beyond brief pleasantries at a political dinner.
During that dinner, Trump expressed sympathy for Adams, who faces a five-count criminal indictment from federal prosecutors. "I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders," Trump said. "We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so were you."
Should they wish to connect more directly, Adams and Trump have a network of intermediaries at the ready.
Attorney Arthur Aidala, a registered Democrat, has represented Rudy Giuliani in cases linked to efforts to overturn the 2020 election for Trump. He is also close with Adams and members of his team. Following a raid on the home of Adams' chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, by the Manhattan district attorney’s office concerning possible corruption in City Hall, Aidala began representing her and even hosted her on his talk show, later noting that her admission on-air about minor crimes made for engaging radio.
"I know a lot of people very close to President Trump," Aidala told PMG. "If I could help in any way, shape or form [to] be an ambassador to New York for the White House... Of course, I would do that in a second to better the city."
Adams is also receiving legal support from John Bash, a lawyer Trump selected during his presidency to act as a U.S. Attorney in Texas. Bash is working alongside Adams' trial attorney, Alex Spiro, and, as reported by the NY Post, is currently assisting Adams with the federal bribery charges. Bash also served as a legal adviser to Trump during his presidency.
Former NYPD detective Bo Dietl, a right-leaning podcast host with longstanding ties to Trump, has lent support to Adams over the years, even after recent disagreements. After holding a fundraiser for Adams in 2021, Dietl has called on the mayor to take a stronger stance on crime.
"I have a direct message for my friend of 30 years, Mayor Eric Adams," Dietl remarked recently, teasing an episode of his show, One Tough Podcast. "You were elected on public safety and crime prevention. Get your balls together and start doing your job."
Dietl opted not to comment for this article, joking that he had a better chance of traveling to the moon than speaking with PMG.
Adams also dined with Republican billionaire John Catsimatidis shortly after winning the Democratic nomination for mayor. Catsimatidis' daughter chairs the Manhattan Republican Party, and he recently interviewed Trump on his radio show, having known him for decades.
In an interview, Catsimatidis noted the shared feeling of being targeted by the Department of Justice that both Trump and Adams experience. "They feel like somebody is pulling the strings in Washington," he said.
The grocery magnate, known for his donations to both political parties, remarked that Adams has more Republican allies than the average New York official, given their mutual opposition to the leftist policies of the Democratic Party. Adams' challenges to state bail reforms, for instance, have not only garnered him support from Republicans and moderate Democrats but also established a rapport with the conservative New York Post, a publication aligned with Trumpism despite its complicated history with the former president.
A trusted confidante of Adams, speaking anonymously to discuss the mayor's views freely, argued that Adams genuinely aims to aid the Democratic Party by highlighting their shortcomings in appealing to working-class voters. The mayor has criticized bail reform as a significant weakness and has also called out the Biden administration regarding immigration policies, advocating for a more coherent border approach. This refusal to denounce Trump as a fascist reflects polling showing that swing-state voters prioritize economic concerns over democratic rhetoric.
Though Adams maintains relationships with numerous Democratic allies, he also receives backing from Trump supporters like Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr. — a conservative former City Council member known for his blunt speaking style. Díaz organized a rally for support of Adams just ahead of his indictment, claiming that the media is trying to hinder Adams' work. "The mayor is being accused of many things, and people, the press especially, is trying to stop him from doing his work," Díaz stated.
The ties to Trump extend even to the mayor's 2025 reelection efforts. Vincent Pitta, a partner at a Brooklyn law firm and longtime Trump associate, maintains communication with the former president. Pitta's son, Vito, serves as compliance attorney for Adams' campaign. Additionally, several of Adams' prominent donors have also contributed to Trump and other national Republicans.
The Cayre family, who have donated significantly to both the mayor's campaign and his legal defense fund, has contributed extensively to Trump and national Republicans, amounting to $800,000 this election cycle alone, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In a brief conversation, Michael Cayre directed PMG to email questions about his connection to the administration, but those queries have gone unanswered.
Republican City Council Member Inna Vernikov expressed willingness to act as a go-between for the Adams and Trump camps if needed. She noted a growing camaraderie among Trump supporters who empathize with Adams for facing similar attacks from progressive Democrats. "Supporters of a Trump presidency are feeling a reluctant kinship with Mayor Adams as he fields similar attacks from the left that Trump has dealt with for years," she said in a statement. "Mayor Adams doesn’t seem afraid to call out the left on their blatant and desperate lies even at his own political peril."
A Trump spokesperson did not respond to inquiries regarding whether the former president is contemplating a pardon for Adams.
Council Member Joe Borelli, leading the Republican minority in the council and one of Adams' staunch allies, dismissed any notion of direct communication between the mayor and Trump’s camps. "I am certain the [Trump] campaign is focused solely on winning the race in the final week, and that this idea is little more than media fan fiction," he stated.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Adams and Trump have shared overlapping spheres in New York City's political arena for some time. The mayor has mingled with, partnered with, and even employed local personalities, entertainers, and business figures who are closely associated with Trump, including a radio host who recently spoke at Adams' rally at Madison Square Garden.
These connections, coupled with Adams' increasing alignment with Trump over mutual concerns regarding the Department of Justice, have alarmed fellow Democrats, who fear that Adams could be positioning himself for a presidential pardon in the event of a conviction on federal corruption charges.
"You probably should have just remained a Republican if you wanted to be a MAGA for Trump," said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a fellow Democrat, referencing Adams' years as a registered Republican.
Adams rejoined the Democratic Party in 2002, citing his move across the aisle as a protest against party leadership, but he has continued to associate closely with prominent Republican figures in the city.
One such figure is conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg, who spoke at last weekend's Trump rally in Madison Square Garden. Rosenberg has frequently highlighted his relationship with the mayor, with whom he has dined on several occasions, sometimes accompanied by his wife. Adams was also a regular guest on Rosenberg's morning talk show.
"We all agree that it's in the mayor's best interest to buddy up to Donald Trump if, in fact, this thing gets worse," Rosenberg said, referring to the corruption charges against Adams and a president's ability to grant pardons or replace federal prosecutors. "And people do think that it's gonna get worse for the mayor."
Despite a recent falling out over the city's handling of pro-Palestinian protests, Rosenberg remains willing to serve as a bridge between Trump and Adams. "Would I sit down with Trump and Adams? Of course I would," he said. "In a heartbeat."
New York Democrats perceive Adams' hesitancy to criticize Trump as a potential strategy for clemency should Trump regain the presidency—a claim those close to the mayor deny. A spokesperson from City Hall indicated that Adams could not recall any communication with Trump beyond brief pleasantries at a political dinner.
During that dinner, Trump expressed sympathy for Adams, who faces a five-count criminal indictment from federal prosecutors. "I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders," Trump said. "We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so were you."
Should they wish to connect more directly, Adams and Trump have a network of intermediaries at the ready.
Attorney Arthur Aidala, a registered Democrat, has represented Rudy Giuliani in cases linked to efforts to overturn the 2020 election for Trump. He is also close with Adams and members of his team. Following a raid on the home of Adams' chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, by the Manhattan district attorney’s office concerning possible corruption in City Hall, Aidala began representing her and even hosted her on his talk show, later noting that her admission on-air about minor crimes made for engaging radio.
"I know a lot of people very close to President Trump," Aidala told PMG. "If I could help in any way, shape or form [to] be an ambassador to New York for the White House... Of course, I would do that in a second to better the city."
Adams is also receiving legal support from John Bash, a lawyer Trump selected during his presidency to act as a U.S. Attorney in Texas. Bash is working alongside Adams' trial attorney, Alex Spiro, and, as reported by the NY Post, is currently assisting Adams with the federal bribery charges. Bash also served as a legal adviser to Trump during his presidency.
Former NYPD detective Bo Dietl, a right-leaning podcast host with longstanding ties to Trump, has lent support to Adams over the years, even after recent disagreements. After holding a fundraiser for Adams in 2021, Dietl has called on the mayor to take a stronger stance on crime.
"I have a direct message for my friend of 30 years, Mayor Eric Adams," Dietl remarked recently, teasing an episode of his show, One Tough Podcast. "You were elected on public safety and crime prevention. Get your balls together and start doing your job."
Dietl opted not to comment for this article, joking that he had a better chance of traveling to the moon than speaking with PMG.
Adams also dined with Republican billionaire John Catsimatidis shortly after winning the Democratic nomination for mayor. Catsimatidis' daughter chairs the Manhattan Republican Party, and he recently interviewed Trump on his radio show, having known him for decades.
In an interview, Catsimatidis noted the shared feeling of being targeted by the Department of Justice that both Trump and Adams experience. "They feel like somebody is pulling the strings in Washington," he said.
The grocery magnate, known for his donations to both political parties, remarked that Adams has more Republican allies than the average New York official, given their mutual opposition to the leftist policies of the Democratic Party. Adams' challenges to state bail reforms, for instance, have not only garnered him support from Republicans and moderate Democrats but also established a rapport with the conservative New York Post, a publication aligned with Trumpism despite its complicated history with the former president.
A trusted confidante of Adams, speaking anonymously to discuss the mayor's views freely, argued that Adams genuinely aims to aid the Democratic Party by highlighting their shortcomings in appealing to working-class voters. The mayor has criticized bail reform as a significant weakness and has also called out the Biden administration regarding immigration policies, advocating for a more coherent border approach. This refusal to denounce Trump as a fascist reflects polling showing that swing-state voters prioritize economic concerns over democratic rhetoric.
Though Adams maintains relationships with numerous Democratic allies, he also receives backing from Trump supporters like Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr. — a conservative former City Council member known for his blunt speaking style. Díaz organized a rally for support of Adams just ahead of his indictment, claiming that the media is trying to hinder Adams' work. "The mayor is being accused of many things, and people, the press especially, is trying to stop him from doing his work," Díaz stated.
The ties to Trump extend even to the mayor's 2025 reelection efforts. Vincent Pitta, a partner at a Brooklyn law firm and longtime Trump associate, maintains communication with the former president. Pitta's son, Vito, serves as compliance attorney for Adams' campaign. Additionally, several of Adams' prominent donors have also contributed to Trump and other national Republicans.
The Cayre family, who have donated significantly to both the mayor's campaign and his legal defense fund, has contributed extensively to Trump and national Republicans, amounting to $800,000 this election cycle alone, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In a brief conversation, Michael Cayre directed PMG to email questions about his connection to the administration, but those queries have gone unanswered.
Republican City Council Member Inna Vernikov expressed willingness to act as a go-between for the Adams and Trump camps if needed. She noted a growing camaraderie among Trump supporters who empathize with Adams for facing similar attacks from progressive Democrats. "Supporters of a Trump presidency are feeling a reluctant kinship with Mayor Adams as he fields similar attacks from the left that Trump has dealt with for years," she said in a statement. "Mayor Adams doesn’t seem afraid to call out the left on their blatant and desperate lies even at his own political peril."
A Trump spokesperson did not respond to inquiries regarding whether the former president is contemplating a pardon for Adams.
Council Member Joe Borelli, leading the Republican minority in the council and one of Adams' staunch allies, dismissed any notion of direct communication between the mayor and Trump’s camps. "I am certain the [Trump] campaign is focused solely on winning the race in the final week, and that this idea is little more than media fan fiction," he stated.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
