Mayor Eric Adams’ high-stakes meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar was brokered by a surprising celebrity: Dr. Phil.
Adams’ sit-down at Gracie Mansion with incoming immigration official Tom Homan on Thursday came as New Yorkers prepare for what Trump has vowed will be “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” The mayor has signaled a willingness to work with the incoming administration, while at the same pledging to “be true” to the city’s immigrant roots.
In an interview that aired after the meeting, Homan praised Adams – and revealed that their talk came together last week, while the immigration hardliner was on Dr. Phil’s private plane.
“I’ve called him out this past year many times about being more of a politician than police officer,” said Homan, who was a police officer in a small town in the North Country before joining the federal government’s border patrol. “I was wrong. He came through today as a police officer and a mayor that cares about the safety and security of his city.”
Homan added to Dr. Phil: “Thank you for making it possible.”
Dr. Phil’s eponymous talk show ran for more than two decades, and the daytime television personality launched his own Merit TV network in the spring, largely focusing on right-wing fixations. Speaking to Homan, he referred to the incoming border official’s concerns about sanctuary cities as “nonpartisan issues.”
Merit TV anchors credited the network’s founder with making essential progress on policy priorities.
“ You had a hand in getting Mayor Eric Adams and Donald Trump’s incoming border czar to not only get into the same room together and discuss policy, but to agree on policy,” one anchor said.
“ I had the privilege of introducing Tom Homan and Mayor Eric Adams on an airplane, on FaceTime,” Dr. Phil responded. “We were actually about to take off and I had to call the tower and pull over because Mayor Adams FaceTimed me…
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