NYC Mayor Eric Adams Sparks Outrage with ‘Mein Kampf’ Reference Amid Calls for Resignation

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Addie Andrus
February 18, 2025
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6 minutes read

Mayor Eric Adams.Bess Adler / Bloomberg via Getty Images file

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ignited fresh controversy amid mounting calls for his resignation, following remarks that have drawn strong condemnation from Jewish leaders and officials. During a re-election campaign event at Rehoboth Cathedral in Brooklyn, Adams defended himself against allegations and criticism, invoking a controversial historical reference.

“I was listening to some of Dr. King’s teachings, and he talked about the book ‘Mein Kampf.’ He said if you repeat a lie long enough, loud enough people will believe it is true, and that’s what you’re seeing right now. According to the New York Daily News, this is a modern-day ‘Mein Kampf,’” Adams said.

The reference to Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic manifesto, in which the Nazi dictator outlined his ideology and propaganda tactics, immediately drew backlash. Hitler’s claim that “the great masses” more readily fall for “a big lie than a small one” was used to justify the spread of antisemitic conspiracies that contributed to the Holocaust, resulting in the murder of six million European Jews.

Adams’ remarks were swiftly condemned by Jewish officials. City Comptroller Brad Lander, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the New York City government, responded, “As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the New York City government, I condemn the mayor’s language in the strongest terms.”

Mayor Eric — “Horrible,” said a high-ranking Adams administration official about the mayor’s recent troubles. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Former comptroller Scott Stringer also criticized Adams, stating, “The mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population should not be comparing the situation that his unethical conduct put him into anything to do with Hitler or the Holocaust.” Lander and Stringer are challengers in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary, further intensifying political tensions.

The controversy adds to Adams’ ongoing legal troubles. Last year, he was criminally indicted on public corruption charges, accused of accepting over $100,000 in luxury travel and gifts from individuals linked to the Turkish government. Prosecutors alleged that Adams sought to bypass city fire codes for a Turkish consulate project.

However, during the Trump administration, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the charges, claiming political motivations behind the case. The decision led to resignations from federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and heightened suspicions about potential political interference.

Amid growing pressure, Adams faces widespread calls to resign, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is being urged to exercise her authority to remove him from office. The controversy surrounding Adams continues to escalate, with his political future hanging in the balance.