New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushed back gently on Tuesday when asked about President Donald Trump’s comments suggesting that Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani should be arrested if he obstructs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Speaking at a press conference, Adams emphasized the distinction between federal and local authority while avoiding direct confrontation with Trump’s remarks.
“ICE is a federal law enforcement agency. It is not some illegal entity,” Adams said. “This administration will collaborate with our federal agencies when it comes to criminal behavior. We’re not going to collaborate on civil enforcement. The law doesn’t allow us to do that.”
Trump’s Remarks and the City’s Response
Earlier in the day, Trump indicated that Mamdani, a known critic of ICE, could face arrest if he interferes with federal agents. He also described Adams as “a good independent option,” fueling speculation about political alignment.
Asked about both remarks, Adams avoided addressing Trump’s praise. Instead, he focused on the importance of respecting institutional boundaries.
“No one, elected or not, should interfere with federal authorities carrying out their function,” Adams said. “You can’t pick and choose which agencies you like. If someone doesn’t like ICE, what happens if they don’t like the IRS? Or the Environmental Protection Agency?”
Adams Calls for Order Over Ideology
While Adams didn’t endorse Trump’s position, he warned against any political figure interfering with lawful federal operations.
“My pet peeve is disorder. I don’t feel comfortable around disorder,” he said. “We can’t have systems of disorder.”
At the same time, Adams drew a clear line between federal and city responsibilities.
“I’m not a federal elected official. I’m a city elected official,” he said. “I have enough things to improve on in this city than to talk about what they’re doing on the federal level.”
A Careful Distance
The exchange highlighted Adams’ balancing act. While reaffirming support for legal order and distancing himself from open defiance of federal agencies, he stopped short of embracing Trump’s hardline stance or directly responding to his characterization of Mamdani.
Mayor Adams’s repeated warnings not to obstruct federal agents appear to be a calculated stance. As election season nears, he’s striking a balance: showing respect for federal authority, while distancing New York from national political turmoil.
