If New York City Mayor Eric Adams aimed to eliminate concerns about his ties to the Trump administration in connection with efforts to dismiss his criminal case, his Friday morning appearance on “Fox and Friends” appeared to have the contrary effect.
In a joint segment with Thomas Homan, President Trump’s immigration advisor, they discussed their recent collaboration on the Trump administration’s immigration policies. This led to some awkward exchanges for Adams, a Democrat.
Facing intense calls for his resignation, the mayor reaffirmed his stance on cooperating with Trump’s plans to detain and deport immigrants accused of crimes. Homan subsequently warned that he would ensure Adams followed through on these commitments.
“If he doesn’t follow through, I’ll return to New York City, and we won’t just be chatting on the couch — I’ll be in his office, on him like a hawk, saying, ‘Where’s the agreement we reached?’” Homan stated.
Homan pressed for more cooperation from Adams and criticized Governor Kathy Hochul, who is experiencing mounting pressure to leverage her authority to remove Adams from office.
“Governor Hochul needs to go,” Homan asserted. “She’s the one who should be out — she supports sanctuary policies.”
Adams remained silent, looking directly at the camera without defending Hochul.
The interview unveiled a striking scenario in the ongoing narrative surrounding the mayor’s federal corruption case, prompting a crisis within the Justice Department. After a top official ordered the case against Adams to be dropped, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan along with several leading officials in the department’s public integrity unit resigned.
Adams’ alignment with Trump has raised alarms in New York about his capability to govern independently, leading distinguished Democrats, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez, to call for his resignation.
Though Hochul had previously indicated she would not consider ousting Adams, she refrained from ruling it out on Thursday evening.
“The allegations are very concerning and severe,” she remarked during an interview on MSNBC. “However, as the governor, I cannot react impulsively or politically.”
Homan expressed confidence in his influence over Adams, stating his intention to secure concessions during their Thursday meeting: “I’m not leaving without progress.”
The interview drew comparisons to a hostage scene, with Adams appearing visibly uneasy. Homan was optimistic about increased cooperation going forward.
“Now I have him in front of millions on the couch, and there’s no way he can back out now,” Homan said.
In defense, Adams maintained his innocence regarding the federal charges and challenged a claim made by outgoing U.S. attorney Danielle R. Sassoon that suggested there was talk of a quid pro quo where Adams could aid departmental enforcement priorities only if the indictment was dropped.
Adams dismissed the notion, questioning, “It took her three weeks to report a criminal action in front of her?” He remarked, “This is ridiculous.”
Following their discussion about collaborating on immigration issues, Adams revealed that he and Homan had agreed to allow federal immigration authorities access to the Rikers Island jail complex.
The city had enacted sanctuary laws in 2014 prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from entering the complex. However, one specific provision allows the mayor to issue an executive order permitting access to federal authorities “for purposes unrelated to the enforcement of civil immigration laws.”
Homan stated on Fox News that “step one” meant granting federal immigration authorities access to Rikers, claiming it would be a “game changer” for detaining violent offenders and sharing intelligence.
He mentioned that while additional immigration measures were discussed, he preferred not to disclose them publicly to avoid interference from the City Council, which might seek to hinder their implementation.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso argued against allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents access to the jails.
“It’s becoming increasingly hard to distinguish where Donald Trump ends and Eric Adams begins,” he stated. “The mayor seems to be under the influence of the president, leaving New Yorkers caught in the middle.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, a significant ally to Adams, reiterated his worries on Friday regarding the mayor’s reliance on Trump.
“I believe the Trump team has compromised him,” he remarked in an interview. “He’s placed the city in a hostage situation.”
Adams asserted during his Fox News appearance that he is running for re-election this year as a Democrat, despite having considered the possibility of switching to the Republican Party. He expressed determination to fight against the calls for his resignation.
“People expected me to step down months ago, but you see, I’m still here — sitting on your couch,” he stated.
Dana Rubinstein contributed reporting.
