Adams Says Mamdani Supporters Could Keep Him From Attending Inauguration

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams said Monday he remains undecided about whether he will attend Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s swearing-in, citing concerns that protests by Mamdani’s supporters could overshadow the event, the New York Post reported.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall during an unrelated appearance, Adams said he does not want to divert attention from Mamdani’s inauguration on New Year’s Day and suggested that the incoming mayor’s political base has given him pause.

“Unfortunately, there’s a body of his supporters who would rather protest everything,” Adams said, adding that he would be willing to attend if Mamdani wanted him there.

Adams indicated that his decision ultimately depends on the tone of the celebration planned outside City Hall. “If the incoming (mayor) is cool — I’m cool,” he said, referring to Mamdani’s planned block party and parade marking the inauguration.

Mamdani is expected to host a large public celebration near City Hall in lower Manhattan, drawing supporters for a festive kickoff to his administration.

Adams, who made fighting antisemitism a fixture of his mayorship, also presided over the city during the mass antisemitic protests in the wake of the Oct 7 massacre, including the Columbia University encampments.

As his term comes to an end, Adams has offered only broad outlines of his post-City Hall plans. He has spent recent weeks traveling, including visits to Mexico and Georgia, and has said he is considering returning to school and writing a memoir.

“There’s a combination of (going) back to school, doing my book, using technology like cryptocurrency to improve the lives of our children, and going after hate in a real way,” Adams said, specifically pointing to his continued focus on fighting antisemitism.

“I will have more to say in the years to come,” he added.