NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Eric Adams denied rumors that he would be dropping out of the New York City mayor's race at a press conference on Friday, calling fellow candidate Andrew Cuomo a "snake" and promising to defeat frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.
At the hastily called news conference on the "future of his campaign" outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor said, "I want to be clear with you. Andrew Cuomo is a snake and a liar. I am in this race. And I'm the only one that can beat Mamdani."
Adams' announcement comes amid reports that the Trump administration is considering him for various roles, including ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in an effort to clear the field against Mamdani.
"I have two spoiled brats running for mayor. They were born with silver spoons in their mouths. Not like working class New Yorkers. I'm a working class New Yorker," Adams continued. "They are not like us. They've never had to fight. They've never had to struggle. They've never had to go through difficult times like you and I have, New Yorkers."
Mamdani has been leading the polls against his fellow candidates, with many arguing that Cuomo, the current runner-up, only stands a chance to defeat the rising democratic socialist if the race is one-on-one.
“I would like to see two people drop out,” Trump said of the mayor's race on Thursday, without specifying who among the candidates opposing Mamdani he thinks should exit the race.
"I hear it over and over again. It's almost Groundhog Day, folks. How many times have I 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," the mayor said. "Everyday New Yorkers are not giving up, are not giving in, are not surrendering. And so their mayor is not going to do that."
Reports have also stated that the Trump administration is eyeing roles for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who on Wednesday confirmed that he had not been contacted and was uninterested in a position with the White House.
Only hours before his bold declaration, the mayor responded to the speculation in a statement that said "serving New Yorkers as their mayor is the only job [he's] ever wanted," and that while he was still keeping his hat in the ring, he would "always listen" to opportunities to serve.