Eric Adams stays in NYC mayor's race after Trump aides tease ambassadorship
Trump advisers had pushed for him to get an ambassadorship to exit the race.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will continue his bid for reelection in November.
Adams made the announcement at a Friday press conference following reports that advisers to President Donald Trump have been making efforts over the last few weeks to persuade him to drop out of the race -- a push that gained momentum in recent days with a potential ambassador post in Saudi Arabi being floated among the options to get Adams to drop out.
Sources told ABC News that a recent in-person meeting between Trump adviser Steve Witkoff and Adams in Florida was a clear push to get that done.
Adams was said to be weighing his options, including opportunities in the private sector.
The Florida meeting was first reported by The New York Times.
"So I want to be clear with you ... I am in the race. And I am the only one that can beat Mamdani," Adams said at Friday's announcement, referring to Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who currently leads in polling.
"This polo shirt that I'm wearing that says Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York -- I'm going to wear that for another four years. We can't go backwards," Adams said.
Adams also denied reports that he will be traveling to the White House on Monday, saying he would instead campaign in New York City.
"Those reports are wrong. I'm not. I'll be moving throughout this city in the five boroughs that made me mayor in the first place," he said.
"How many times ... I've been told throughout this journey, to step aside, to surrender, to give up, to give in? That's the same thing we tell everyday New Yorkers. Everyday New Yorkers are not giving up, are not giving in, are not surrendering. So the mayor is not going to do that," said Adams.
Sources told ABC News the Trump team has been hearing from Republican donors in New York pleading with Trump aides to get involved out of fear that Mamdani could win the November contest.
"Then it's on to Sliwa, but that's a tougher nut," one source familiar with the efforts told ABC News, referring to Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, who has publicly vowed to stay in the race.
"I'd prefer not to have a communist mayor of New York City," Trump said Thursday night when asked by reporters for his thoughts on the New York City contest. "So I would, I would like to see two people drop out and have it be one-on-one. And I think that's a race that could be won."
If Adams and Sliwa were to exit, that would mean Mamdani's remaining major rival would be former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running on the independent line after losing the June Democratic primary.
Cuomo, sources told ABC News, was spotted Friday morning meeting with political activist and power broker Al Sharpton, who has not made any endorsement in the race.