With the presidential election just two weeks away, Mayor Eric Adams has faced scrutiny over his connections to both candidates, following remarks by Donald Trump, who recently likened his legal troubles to those of the mayor.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Mayor Adams has remained consistent in attending his regular Q&A sessions with the press, even while dealing with COVID-19 and following his indictment on federal bribery charges.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Eyewitness News questioned Adams about Trump and an upcoming rally at Madison Square Garden. In response, Adams said he plans to “meditate” on the night of the event.

At last week’s Al Smith dinner, Trump expressed his support for Adams, drawing a comparison between their situations. “I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders. We were persecuted, Eric,” Trump remarked.

Since then, Adams has tried to minimize Trump’s comments, brushing them off as part of election season antics. “This is the season when the silliness comes into politics,” Adams said, framing the situation as a distraction.

“New Yorkers need to hear the issues. And I’m just not going to get into back-and-forths over comments made on both sides,” the mayor added, distancing himself from the political rhetoric.