Video Shows Eric Adams Bashing Trump’s ‘Idiot Behavior’ and ‘Buffoonery’ on MLK Day in 2018
Mayor Eric Adams has stood out among Democrats by meeting with, and failing to criticize, President Donald Trump. But not so long ago, he called Trump an “idiot” and likened him to a buffoon in a fiery Martin Luther King Day speech delivered to his political base.
Adams’ criticism, made in 2018 when he was Brooklyn Borough President and Trump was in his first term, came at an annual MLK tribute at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Seven years later, Adams cancelled plans to speak at the very same event this past Monday so that he could attend Trump’s second inauguration in Washington D.C.
‘Straight Answers’
Adams, a onetime Republican turned Democrat, endorsed Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris in their campaigns against Trump, but he has not been known for being a vocal critic of the president.
On Thursday, though, the New York Daily News reported that Adams labeled him a “white supremacist” in a Tweet on October 1, 2020, when he was borough president.
As mayor, and under federal indictment for alleged corruption since September, Adams’ stance on calling out Trump’s behavior has shifted.
On Tuesday, a day after attending Trump’s inauguration, Adams told reporters at his weekly press briefing at City Hall that he plans to express any disagreements with Trump only privately in the hopes of “working” rather than “warring” with the new administration.
The Road to Mar-a-Lago
After Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee in July, Adams said early on, though not immediately, that he supported her candidacy.
But that included few shows of public support, and he was left without a speaking slot at the party’s national convention the following month.
In early September 2024, the office of the Manhattan US Attorney indicted Adams on charges that included bribery for allegedly conspiring to solicit illegal donations from foreign nationals affiliated with Turkey, in exchange for favorable government actions. Adams has maintained that he did nothing wrong.
He continued to say he supported Harris throughout her abridged campaign, but he rarely identified her by name at his weekly press conferences at City Hall — arguing that city attorneys were concerned it would be a conflict of interest to discuss politics in a government building.
Related
Conclusion
Mayor Eric Adams’ shift in stance on criticizing President Trump is a notable change from his fiery speech in 2018, where he called Trump an “idiot” and likened him to a buffoon. Adams’ decision to attend Trump’s inauguration and meet with him privately has raised eyebrows, and his willingness to express disagreements with Trump only privately has drawn criticism from some Democratic leaders.
FAQs
Q: Why did Mayor Eric Adams call President Trump an “idiot” and liken him to a buffoon in 2018?
A: Adams made these comments in a fiery Martin Luther King Day speech delivered to his political base, criticizing Trump’s behavior and likening him to a “crackhead” who tells people they’re not successful.
Q: Why did Adams cancel plans to speak at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s MLK tribute this past Monday?
A: Adams cancelled his plans to attend Trump’s second inauguration in Washington D.C. instead.
Q: What is the current status of Adams’ indictment for alleged corruption?
A: Adams is under federal indictment for alleged corruption since September, and has maintained that he did nothing wrong.
Q: Why did Adams decide to express disagreements with Trump only privately?
A: Adams said he wants to “work” rather than “warring” with the new administration, and believes that expressing disagreements publicly can be counterproductive.
