NEW YORK– With the presidential election just days away, you might expect the top Democratic official in one of America’s most liberal cities to spend his time criticizing Republican candidate Donald Trump.

But that’s not the approach taken by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who faces a federal indictment on corruption charges. At a news conference Tuesday, Adams evaded more than a dozen questions about Trump and his policies.

He declined to say whether he would oppose Trump’s plan to launch the largest mass deportation operation in American history, calling the deportation plan “hypothetical.”

He also missed an opportunity to criticize Trump recent false statements » said the Republican about a group of wrongly convicted New Yorkers, known as the Central Park Five, who referred their questions to their lawyers. And he refused to say when he last spoke to Trump.

Instead, Adams directed his anger at his own party, arguing that it was insulting to ask whether Trump was a fascist and urging leaders to “reject the rhetoric” ahead of the election.

“With everything that happens to everyday New Yorkers, we ask ourselves: ‘Is anyone a fascist?’ or “Is anyone a Hitler?” “,” Adams said. “It’s insulting to me.”

The comments mark the latest defense of Trump by Adams, a centrist Democrat whose long-running grievances with his own party have intensified since he was indicted last month on federal corruption charges. He has since suggestedwithout providing evidence, that he was targeted by U.S. prosecutors because of his criticism of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.

If he wins the White House, Trump could potentially end corruption charges against Adams or issue a pardon to the mayor.

At Tuesday’s news conference, Adams would not say whether he was considering a possible pardon if convicted.

When asked who he planned to vote for in the presidential election, Adams indirectly referenced past support and said he had not changed his mind. But he never mentioned Kamala Harris’ name.

“I’m not going to do an annual booster shot of approval,” Adams said.

But it is his refusal to denounce the eviction plans which aroused the most anger on Tuesday. When asked directly whether he would support or oppose the plan — which Trump said would be a “sob story” — Adams said he would consider “no hypothetical.”

Some of Adams’ likely opponents in the June Democratic mayoral primary were quick to seize on the comments as evidence of an alliance with the Trump administration.

“It is now clear that the mayor believes his political future is linked to that of the former president and that he is willing to betray the fundamental values ​​of our city to cozy up to a fascist,” said Zohran Mamdani, Queens Assemblyman running against Adams in 2017. next year’s mayoral primary. “This is reckless, unacceptable and wrong.”

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who would become mayor if Adams resigns or is impeached, called the comments “shameful,” adding that Adams “believes in what Trump says to the point that he can’t denounce anything about the man . »

Trump, meanwhile, praised Adams, thanking him during his rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. “Mayor Adams has been treated very poorly,” Trump said, adding, “I have to tell you, he’s been really great.”

The rally also featured crude and racist insults, including a joke from a comedian comparing Puerto Rico to a “Floating garbage island.”

On Tuesday, Adams said some of the speakers at the rally made “inappropriate” comments, but added, “You can’t demonize an entire population based on the actions of those who participate in it.” »

When asked if he disagreed with any of Trump’s statements, Adams responded tersely: “Next question.”