New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently disagreed with Vice President Kamala Harris by claiming that former President Donald Trump is not a “fascist.” He urged Democrats to moderate their rhetoric moving forward.
Adams denied any communication with Trump’s campaign regarding the Madison Square Garden rally and rejected the “fascist” label for Trump.
“You know, I have had those terms hurled at me by some political leaders in the city, using terms like Hitler and fascists. My answer is no. I know what Hitler has done and I know what a fascist regime looks like,” Adams said.
Adams defended Trump’s right to hold a rally and emphasized the need for civil political discourse. He then pressed New York City’s role in ensuring a peaceful event.
“I think, as I’ve called over and over again, that the former president should not be able to have a rally in Madison Square Garden. I strongly disagree,” Adams said.
“This is America. This is New York. And I think it’s important that we allow individuals to exercise their right to get their message clear to New Yorkers. And our job as a city and as a police department is to make sure they can do that in a peaceful way.”
He warned against escalating political rhetoric, noting that extreme language could affect governance post-election.
“I think that we must be extremely cautious. The heat we turn up today, pre-election, is going to have to be the heat we’re going to have to govern in. And I think we need to show a level of respectable communication,” Adams said.
“And so when people called me fascist and other terminologies, I didn’t like it. I don’t think it’s fitting to anyone to state that a former president is equal to being Hitler,” he said.
Adams also addressed accusations against him and the city’s Jewish community.
“I just think that this is a city where we have the largest Jewish population. Anti-Semitic issues that we’re facing in the city. Let’s have a safe, fair, democratic process and show the globe how we’re able to do it correctly,” he concluded.
