Having been a longtime critic, Eric Trump displayed an unusual appreciation from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for keeping two ice skating rinks operated by the Trump Organization open.
But the city refuses to yield in its pressure to break ties with Donald Trump’s business after the US Capitol riot that the former president is accused of inciting, a claim he denies.
Last month, de Blasio announced that NYC would end three contracts with the Trump Organization following the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The decision affects Central Park Carousel, the Wollman and Lasker skating rinks and the Ferry Point golf course – all operated by Trump’s business empire.
“The president incited a rebellion against the United States government that killed five people and threatened to prevent the constitutional transfer of power,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement last month, adding that the city “will not be associated with these acts. unforgivable in any shape, path or form. “
After the planned closure of the Central Park ice rinks was met with local criticism, Blasio’s press secretary, Bill Neidhardt, said the rinks will remain open for the rest of the season, but reiterated that the city “will not do business with the Trump Organization going forward, “the Associated Press reported.
“Inciting an insurrection will never be forgotten or forgiven,” said Neidhardt.
Eric Trump, son of the former president and executive president of the Trump Organization, responded to the news with sincere gratitude to the mayor, a staunch critic of his father.
“Mr. Mayor – thanks for keeping Wollman and Lasker Rinks open – you just made countless New York families (along with our 250 employees) incredibly happy,” Trump tweeted on Sunday. “This is a brilliant time for New York and know that we appreciate it. I look forward to saying ‘thank you’ personally.”
Newsweek contacted Blasio’s office for comment.
The decision was also welcomed by community members who protested the closure of the runways. Local non-profit organization Ice Hockey in Harlem praised the initiative to reopen its Lasker Rink “home” as an “incredible turnaround”.
Student Serena Sabet, who obtained more than 6,000 signatures on an online petition to keep the rinks open, said “there was no dry eye on the rink” when the decision was announced.
According to the AP, Erik Trump had previously complained that the closure of the rinks was “a purely political ploy that only hurts New Yorkers”.
“Rather than focusing on an agonizing city that everyone is leaving because of rising crime, high taxes, closed businesses and totally incompetent leadership, the mayor is painting signs in front of the Trump Tower and trying to destroy the only open air activity free available to children during a pandemic, “Trump said in a statement.
Trump didn’t seem to like De Blasio in the past, having especially criticized the Democratic mayor for his prejudice against law enforcement. In July 2019, Trump called Blasio a “disgrace to New York”, detested by “virtually everyone on the NYPD”.
In a 2020 appearance on Fox News, Trump called Blasio “anti-police” and said his policies had made New York “more dangerous”.
“He’s been so anti-police, and that shows,” said Trump. “He allows them to be beaten and allows them to be beaten and he takes away their rights.”
In May 2019, after Blasio gave a news conference in the Trump Tower lobby urging the Trump Organization to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Trump called the event “childish”.
“The fact that the mayor of a large city attacks an iconic organization (which employs thousands of New York taxpayer workers) for its own political gain is an abuse of power, unethical and simply counterintuitive,” tweeted Trump.
Olivier DOULIERY / AFP