Trump reportedly offers NYC Mayor Eric Adams Saudi ambassadorship to step aside

The Trump administration is reportedly attempting to influence the New York City mayoral race by offering Mayor Eric Adams a high-profile ambassadorship in exchange for withdrawing from the November election. If Adams steps aside, former Governor Andrew Cuomo would become the primary challenger to Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who is currently leading the race.

The New York Times, citing four anonymous sources, reported that Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy for peace missions and a close personal friend, has been working to persuade Adams to consider the role of ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a strategic post amid US-Saudi relations. Adams was also reportedly being considered for ambassadorships to the United Arab Emirates or Oman.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump denied offering Adams any such positions but warned that a crowded field could allow Mamdani, whom he labeled a “communist mayor,” to win due to vote splitting.

Adams, running as an Independent, remains far behind both Mamdani and Cuomo in the polls. He has dismissed reports of a potential withdrawal, emphasizing his focus on the city’s administration. “I’m running for office and I’m going to finish doing that,” he said, highlighting his record of managing New York’s 320,000 employees and crises.

The mayor’s campaign has faced scrutiny due to past federal allegations. Prosecutors accused Adams of taking bribes, committing wire fraud, and accepting illegal campaign contributions tied to a Turkish official between 2021 and 2022. The Justice Department dropped these charges shortly after Trump’s inauguration in January.

Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary in June by a large margin, is poised to become the city’s first Muslim and vocally pro-Palestine mayor unless the dynamics of the race change. Cuomo, who initially dropped out following the primary, re-entered as an Independent candidate. He is backed by pro-'Israel' groups and the Democratic establishment, including figures such as Bill Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer.

Mamdani’s campaign claims Cuomo has run an Islamophobic campaign, while highlighting the influence of Political Action Committee (PAC) funding aimed at promoting unconditional support for 'Israel'. Despite being heavily outspent, Mamdani still secured the Democratic nomination.

“Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump’s choice to be the next mayor of this city,” Mamdani said Thursday. “The White House’s efforts to influence the race are not going to change our confidence in November.”

Cuomo, for his part, denied seeking Trump’s endorsement and suggested Mamdani’s victory could serve Trump’s political interests, potentially bolstering the Republican narrative and influencing congressional races. “It would justify his takeover of New York, which is what he really wants to do,” Cuomo said.