This lame duck may still be airborne, but Turkey isn’t on board.
Mayor Eric Adams embarked on a four-day trip to Albania funded by New York City taxpayers, shortly after he withdrew his bid for re-election, city officials reported on Monday.
The trip to Albania – initially revealed by NBC4 – is not a personal getaway for the notoriously perks-enthusiast Adams. Rather, it’s framed by City Hall as part of his duties as mayor of a prominent international city, according to spokesperson Kayla Mamelak.
This trip was initiated by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, per reports from city officials.
“In the coming days, Mayor Adams will visit Albania, engaging with the prime minister, tech and business leaders, touring factories, and exploring opportunities to enhance economic interactions and tourism in New York City,” she noted.
Speculation has circulated recently that Adams could be offered an ambassadorship in the Trump administration as a incentive for stepping down from the mayoral race, allegedly to undermine the election of socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani.
This potentially final official trip of Adams’ term comes on the heels of an unprecedented federal indictment concerning $123,000 in lavish travel benefits, including notably discounted Turkish Airlines tickets.
Adams has denied any involvement with Turkish corruption, and his case was controversially thrown out by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice.
Inquiries regarding Adams’ trip to Albania prompted City Hall officials to clarify that he would not be flying on Turkish Airlines.
Adams departed New York City on Lufthansa, as per city officials.
Citing the nature of the journey, city officials contended that some expenses incurred by Adams would be taxpayer-funded.
However, the Albanian government will cover the lodging and transportation costs for Adams and his security detail, estimated at approximately $200 and $90 per day, respectively, as revealed by city officials.
While City Hall emphasized that Adams’ trip aligns with his mayoral responsibilities, the mayor does have a personal connection to Albania.
In 2022, Adams’ son Jordan Coleman notably participated in the Albanian version of “American Idol” and recently released five party tracks inspired by his experiences in Eastern Europe.
During a discussion with an Albanian TV host at the United Nations General Assembly, Adams referenced his son’s foray into music and expressed envy over his Albanian performance.
“I’ve achieved so much, yet I feel a tinge of jealousy for my son, who traveled to Albania and performed there,” he remarked.
“In New York, we have our own Albanian community – it’s the Albania of America,” he reiterated, echoing his sentiments about the city’s multicultural tapestry.
City officials confirmed that Coleman will not accompany Adams and was not involved in the trip.
Adams is set to return to New York City on Thursday.
