New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) called out a rally for Republican nominee former President Donald Trump after a comedian insulted Puerto Rico during a stand-up routine that preceded Trump's remarks, which were complimentary to Adams.

"The hateful words that were used by some at today’s rally at Madison Square Garden were completely unacceptable. No matter who says it, hate is hate and there is no place for it in our city. As Americans, we always should stand up against racism, antisemitism, and misogyny," Adams posted on X.

"Yesterday, ahead of today’s rally, I talked about how we all need to turn down the temperature that fuels hate and violence. I am once again renewing those calls," he added.

For his part, Trump spoke favorably of Adams and expressed sympathy for his indictment after Adams spoke out against the Biden administration sending tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to New York.

"Indicted by these lunatics"

"And you know who I want to thank?" Trump said Sunday evening at the sold-out MSG rally. "Mayor Adams. Because Mayor Adams has been treated pretty badly. You know, when he said that this whole thing with the migrants coming into Ne, "The immigration system in this nation is broken. It has been broken for decades. Today, New York City has been left to pick up the pieces. Since last year, nearly 100,000 asylum seekers have arrived in our city asking for shelter," w York, this is just not sustainable. You know, we can’t do it. We’re trying to run a city, we got 100,000 migrants coming. We can’t do it, we just can’t do it, it’s not feasible, it’s not good."

"He said it very nicely," Trump continued. "I said, ‘Well, he’s going to be indicted by these lunatics for saying that.’ A year later, he got indicted."

Adams was indicted on five counts of fraud, bribery and corruption charges last month for allegedly soliciting illegal campaign contributions in exchange for favors for a number of foreign nationals.

Trump joked at the rally, "I think they upgraded his seat in an airplane. That’s a very serious charge."

Is it payback?

Adams has tied his immigration comments to the indictment.

"I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became," Adams said last month. "Leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty."

Adams said last year, "The immigration system in this nation is broken. It has been broken for decades. Today, New York City has been left to pick up the pieces. Since last year, nearly 100,000 asylum seekers have arrived in our city asking for shelter."

Defense of Trump

On Tuesday, Adams defended Trump against rhetoric that paints him as Hitler or a fascist.

“I speak to my mayors across the country, and they talk about these real problems we’re having. And with all that’s going on to every day New Yorkers, we’re asking questions that, ‘Is someone a fascist?’ or ‘Is someone a Hitler?’ That’s insulting to me. That is insulting,” Adams said.

"I know what Hitler has done, and I know what a fascist regime looks like. I think, as I have called for over and over again, that the level of conversation, I think we can all dial down the temperature," he added.