President-elect Donald Trump appeared to thank New York City Mayor Eric Adams when the two crossed paths at Saturday night’s UFC event at Madison Square Garden, according to a lip reader.
Jeremy Freeman, a certified lip-reading expert, told The Daily Mail after reviewing footage of the encounter that the two appeared to have a warm, intimate conversation as they shook hands.
“Oh Eric…” Trump told the mayor before his face was blocked by Adams’ head, according to Freeman.
Trump, who was convicted for falsifying business records in Manhattan earlier this year, has appeared sympathetic towards Adams in the past as he faces his own federal charges related to an alleged bribery scheme related to a Turkish government official and other foreign nationals.
“We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric,” Trump told the mayor at last month’s Al Smith Dinner.
Adams, the first sitting New York mayor ever to be indicted, has pleaded not guilty and said he still plans to run for reelection.