Updated Oct 18, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Trump at Al Smith dinner wishes indicted NYC Mayor Adams "good luck"

Rebecca Falconer

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York City. — Republican presidential nominee, former President Trump speaks during the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 17. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Former President Trump told indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams "you're gonna win" during a roasting of the Democrat at the Al Smith charity dinner that the Republican presidential nominee headlined on Thursday night.

Context: The first sitting NYC mayor to be criminally charged pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and fraud charges in relation to allegations that Adams denies of accepting illegal campaign contributions and receiving travel perks from Turkish officials and others.

What he's saying: "Mayor Adams, good luck with everything," Trump said as he addressed Adams at the annual charity dinner. "They went after you, Mayor. Oh boy, I knew that.

"Nine and a half months ago, I said, 'You know, he just said something bad about the administration. He's gonna be indicted any moment,'" the former president claimed.
"And guess what happened? But you're gonna win. I think you're gonna win. I know you're gonna win, so good luck. Good luck. I don't like what they do," he added.
"They've gone after me, Mr. Mayor, and you're peanuts compared to what they've done to me," added the first former U.S. president to be criminally charged, in reference to the four indictments he faces. "And you're going to be OK."

The big picture: The dinner hosts the two major presidential candidates every four years, but Vice President Kamala Harris opted to campaign in Wisconsin instead.

"It shows you there is a God," Trump joked about Harris' no-show to applause.
Harris did appear at the event via a recorded video message, saying: "In the spirit of tonight's dinner, let us recommit to reaching across divides, to seek understanding and common ground."

Zoom in: Trump went off script to note there was another former New York City mayor present at the dinner, who was "easily the worst in our history. And it's not Michael [Bloomberg]."

He said he was "surprised" that former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio "was actually able to make it" to the dinner.
"I don't give a s--t if this is comedy or not. He was a terrible mayor," added Trump, who clashed with de Blasio when the two were in office. "He did a horrible job. That's not comedy, by the way. That's fact."