Who: New York City Mayor Eric Adams. When: Sept. 5, 2025. Where: Outside Gracie Mansion and in public statements. What: Adams said he will stay in the mayoral race after a New York Times report that advisers to President Donald Trump discussed nominating him as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Result: Adams declared he is running for reelection and dismissed the idea of withdrawing.
- Adams publicly reaffirmed his bid for reelection on Sept. 5, 2025, saying he will not withdraw.
- The New York Times reported Trump advisers floated nominating Adams as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia to induce him to leave the race.
- Adams said he would beat Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani and walked away from reporters after brief remarks.
- Former governor Andrew Cuomo could benefit if Adams left and the field narrowed to a one-on-one contest, President Trump suggested.
- Adams, who ran as an independent after skipping the Democratic primary, had previously faced a federal indictment that was dropped in April at the request of the Trump administration.
- Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa has indicated he will remain in the mayoral race.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 5, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams told reporters outside his Gracie Mansion residence that he will continue his campaign for reelection. He made two short, direct statements: that he is running for reelection and that he intends to defeat Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who won the primary easily.
The New York Times published a report saying close advisers to President Donald Trump were exploring a plan to offer Adams the ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia as an inducement to withdraw from the New York mayoral contest. That plan was described as an effort to thin the field and improve the chances of particular challengers.
President Trump publicly commented on the situation, saying he believed a one-on-one matchup could help a former governor, Andrew Cuomo, and criticizing the crowded field. Trump also used sharp rhetoric about New York’s leadership while discussing the race.
Adams ran as an independent after deciding not to seek the Democratic nomination. He had faced a federal corruption indictment; prosecutors dropped that case in April 2025, a development the reporting links to actions by the Trump administration.
Curtis Sliwa remains the Republican nominee and has said he will not exit the race. Zohran Mamdani is widely described as the front-runner following his primary victory over Cuomo.
Context & Impact
If Adams were to withdraw, analysts say the dynamics of the November contest could shift significantly. A narrower field could consolidate anti-Mamdani votes around a single challenger and improve the chances of an independent or former-Democrat candidate like Cuomo.
The ambassadorship angle matters because diplomatic postings are typically presidential nominations requiring Senate confirmation. Using such nominations as leverage in domestic politics raises legal and ethical questions and could draw scrutiny if pursued.
For New Yorkers, the episode is likely to sharpen conversations about political alliances, the role of federal influence in local races, and how outside actors may attempt to shape municipal contests.
“I’m running for reelection. I’m going to beat Mamdani.”
Eric Adams
Unconfirmed
- The precise status and scope of the plan reported by The New York Times—specifically whether the White House formally advanced a nomination package for Adams—remain unverified.
- Motivations attributed to specific advisers and whether any formal offer was made have not been independently confirmed.
Bottom Line
Adams has rejected calls to withdraw and remains an active candidate on Sept. 5, 2025. The NYT report that Trump advisers discussed an ambassadorship as inducement to exit underscores how national politics can intersect with local races; whether that plan advances or remains speculative will shape both legal scrutiny and voter perceptions in the coming weeks.