Eric Adams granted honorary Albanian citizenship at his request, decree says
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Friday he has become an honorary citizen of Albania, a status granted at his request under a presidential decree from Bajram Begaj. The development was first reported in Albanian media and confirmed by Adams’ spokesperson.
Todd Shapiro, speaking for Adams, said the former mayor has “long been a friend and ally of the Albanian-American community.” He added that Albania’s decision “reflects that enduring relationship and mutual respect” and “further strengthens the bond between New York and Albania.” Adams, who once described himself as an “international mayor,” has previously highlighted personal ties to the country.
His adult son lived in Albania while competing in the local version of American Idol, and Adams traveled there in October during his final months in office. He said the purpose of that visit was to greet a friend, learn from them, and build a relationship “that will not allow our oceans or seas to divide us.” It was not immediately clear what Adams plans to do with the honorary citizenship.
He has, at various times, expressed an interest in retiring abroad, including saying in 2018 as Brooklyn Borough President that he would in Baku and later telling a Jewish publication he would like to retire in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. As mayor, Adams’ travel to Turkey drew scrutiny and led to a federal indictment focused, in part, on allegations that he accepted improper travel benefits from foreign nationals.
He denied the allegations, and the case was later ordered dropped by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Adams subsequently met with Trump administration officials about a possible ambassadorship, which did not materialize. Shortly after dropping his ailing bid for reelection, Adams took a four-day trip to Albania, where he met Prime Minister Edi Rama, Cabinet members, and local business leaders.
According to the account provided, the visit was paid for in part by the Albanian government. Since leaving office, he has been seen in Dubai and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he has said he planned to travel to Senegal for a business opportunity he did not detail.
In January, Adams launched a cryptocurrency coin he said would combat antisemitism and “anti-Americanism,” a project that drew scrutiny after losing millions of dollars in value. For now, Adams’ office has framed the honorary citizenship as a recognition of longstanding ties, while how he might use the status remains an open question.