New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday dodged questions from “The View” hosts about a possible pardon by President-elect Donald Trump for his ongoing federal investigators.

However, he had plenty to say about how Trump won the election and the need for both sides to rethink their toxic rhetoric.

Adams has been in the hot seat for more than a year as federal investigators probed several of his closest confidants and deputies, leading to mass resignations and scandals that all came to a head in September when Adams became the first sitting mayor of New York City to be elected. indicted on corruption charges.

The mayor pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence and enjoyed support from Trump who claimed Adams was unfairly charged by federal prosecutors.

Asked by “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin about allegations that he was approaching the president-elect to help make a possible pardon possible, Adams did not respond. Instead, he reiterated his previous claims that he intended to work for the city while its legal team fought the charges.

“My job is to do what I’ve been doing since January 1, 2022,” he said.

Federal prosecutors charged Adams with one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, two counts of soliciting a contribution from a foreign national and one count of bribery.

The indictment stems from alleged gifts, including upgraded airline flights and luxury hotel stays, given by Turkish businessmen and officials in exchange for preferential treatment from the mayor.

The lawsuit against Adams is should start in April. The investigation is ongoing and prosecutors have indicated other people could be charged.

Although Adams said his lawyers would handle the case, he said he and his officials were already preparing for various scenarios that Trump could inflict on the city.

Adams gave more details about Trump’s mass deportation proposal. The mayor said New York has always welcomed immigrants and that law-abiding immigrants and their families will be protected, but stressed that the country’s immigration system is broken and that the best solutions would come from addressing these issues. underlying problems.

He said the migrant crisis has cost the city billions of dollars and no one has provided it with the means or resources to deal with the more than 200,000 migrants who have been shipped to the city from other states.

“I have no right to let them work (legally),” he said. “I have no right to have them participate in our tax system.”

Adams said both sides of the political aisle must reject the rhetoric and name-calling that has perpetuated the discourse for years. The mayor suggested that toxic rhetoric was a reason for Trump’s victory, particularly in the city where the former president gained ground among the electorate.

“What you’ve seen in this city and in a city that’s getting redder and redder is because we stopped talking about broken class issues,” Adams said.

“They’re not talking about fascism, they’re talking about finance. They’re not talking about Hitler, they’re talking about housing,” the mayor added, referring to claims by Trump’s opponents that he was a fascist.

Ana Navarro, co-host of “The View,” noted that Vice President-elect JD Vance once called Trump Hitler. Adams reiterated that everyone needs to tone down their rhetoric.

Adams was also asked about his opinion on Trump’s controversial plan. people appointed to the cabinetparticularly Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

RFK Jr., who attempted to run for president this year as a Democratic and independent candidate before supporting Trump, pushed false claims about the dangers of vaccines and fluoride and promised to make massive cuts in health services if appointed by the Senate.

Adams opposed the fluoride claims, but noted that the country needs to look at what is put in food, which was another health stance RFK Jr. has taken in the past.

When pressed by the hosts of “The View” to respond to RFK Jr.’s proposals, Adams said he was confident that the people in place at health agencies would do the right thing for the country.

“If we love our country, then no one should take us away from our mission,” he said.

“There are subject matter experts, they will look at his proposals and give an analysis,” Adams added.