Under fire over Trump comments, NYC Mayor Adams doubles down on rejection of ‘fascist’ label

Mayor Adams — under fire from fellow Democrats for his recent comments about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump — doubled down Tuesday on his belief that it’s inappropriate to call the former president a fascist.
In his weekly press briefing, the centrist Democrat mayor said it’s “silly” and “insulting” to debate whether Trump’s a fascist.
“With all that’s going on to everyday New Yorkers, we’re asking questions that, ‘Is someone a fascist or is someone a Hitler?’ That’s insulting to me, that is insulting, and I’m not going to engage,” Adams told reporters.
“Everyone needs to turn down the rhetoric because after Election Day, we still have to be the United States and not the divided states … I’m going to fight for New Yorkers like I’ve done for years and whomever can’t understand that, they’re not in the streets. When I’m at these town halls talking to people there, they’re not asking me these silly questions.”
Adams’ latest remarks came after he stirred outrage from Democrats by saying Saturday he doesn’t believe Trump should be referred to as a fascist or compared to dictators like Adolf Hitler.
That approach flew in the face of recent rhetoric from Vice President Kamala Harris, whose 2024 campaign and surrogates have seized on the notion that Trump has fascist leanings in the leadup to next Tuesday’s high-stakes national election.
Adams’ comments prompted Trump to thank him by name during his controversial Sunday rally at Madison Square Garden, telling the crowd it was “very nice” of the mayor to stick up for him.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Adams, who says he’s supporting Harris in the presidential election, declined to answer when asked when he last spoke with anyone from Trump’s team. “Give me another question, please. You lost your opportunity,” he said.
The mayor also declined to address the issue of whether he finds Trump’s rhetoric about immigrants — including calling them “invaders” and “occupiers” — inappropriate, instead saying: “I responded to my comments on Trump. Next question.”
Adams’ statements on Trump has infuriated local Democrats. That includes Comptroller Brad Lander, who said on X last weekend Adams’ comments make it seem like he’s hoping the ex-president, if reelected, could pardon him of any crimes he may be convicted of as part of the federal case he’s facing on charges alleging he took bribes from Turkish government operatives in exchange for political favors.
“Lander, ooh, he’s the moral authority of life, you know. Listen, next question,” Adams said Tuesday when asked for a response to the accusations from Lander, who’s challenging Adams in next June’s Democratic mayoral primary.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, a Democrat who would become interim mayor should Adams depart office before the next election, said at City Hall after Adams’ Tuesday press conference he found his latest comments “disgraceful.”
“It’s just getting worse and worse. You can’t find one thing to separate yourself from from Donald Trump? Makes no sense from a so-called Democratic mayor,” Williams said.