NYC Mayor Adams defends friendship with pro-Trump radio host Sid Rosenberg: ‘Everyone want to cancel people’
Mayor Adams pushed back Wednesday against fellow Democrats who have criticized his friendship with conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg — and accused them of seeking to “cancel people.”
Adams was responding to a Daily News report from earlier this month that local Democratic strategists and elected officials are alarmed by his camaraderie with Rosenberg, given the radio host’s right-wing allegiances, including avowed support for former President Donald Trump.
In a Wednesday morning appearance on Rosenberg’s WABC77 radio show, Adams took offense to that criticism, saying “the heart of the American Dream” is being able to socialize with people of political polar opposites.
“So what if you disagree? Why should we be so insecure in who we are because we disagree?” Adams told Rosenberg. “That’s the problem: Everyone want to automatically cancel people out because they disagree with them on certain things.”
After echoing Adams’ critique, Rosenberg, who typically hosts hard-right political operatives like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump, Jr. on his show, added: “I have to tell you Mr. Mayor: More Democrats have stopped me over the last couple of weeks and congratulated me on this relationship and said, ‘Let me tell you, the Adams-Rosenberg relationship is exactly what New York politics need.'”
Adams replied: “Listen, I agree.”
Allen Roskoff, a veteran LGBTQ activist who’s been friends with Adams for years, said he’s disappointed by the mayor’s embrace of Rosenberg.
“I wouldn’t want to breathe the same air as Sid Rosenberg,” Roskoff told The News, noting that the radio host has been supportive of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ restrictions on teaching children about LGBTQ rights in school. “And a mayor certainly shouldn’t dignify him by giving him any respect.”
Wednesday marked at least the sixth time Adams has appeared on Rosenberg’s shows since taking office. As first reported by The News, the pair have also privately socialized multiple times in recent weeks, and Adams has called Rosenberg’s radio show his “favorite.”
Capping off Wednesday’s broadcast, Rosenberg joked to Adams: “I look forward to dinner next week with you, me and DeSantis.”
Adams chuckled in response.