New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly opposed the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. Speaking on his third day in office, Mamdani said he called President Donald Trump directly to register his opposition, citing concerns about regime change, violations of federal and international law, and the potential consequences for New Yorkers. Mamdani did not reveal Trump’s response, emphasizing only that he had made his stance clear.
Earlier in the day, Mamdani released a statement on X, expressing alarm at the military action. He described it as a unilateral attack on a sovereign nation and a breach of international law, noting that tens of thousands of Venezuelans live in New York City. “My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker,” he said, pledging that his administration would monitor the situation closely and issue guidance as needed.
Trump, however, framed the operation differently, describing it as a law enforcement action rather than an act of war. In a Truth Social post, he announced that U.S. federal law enforcement agents, working with the military, had successfully captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them out of Venezuela. Trump called the operation a large-scale strike designed to remove a fugitive from power, signaling that it was a targeted mission rather than a broader military intervention.
Attorney General Pam Bondi provided additional details, confirming that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Charges included narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy related to those weapons against the United States.
Reports from Venezuela’s capital indicated that at least seven explosions were heard during the operation, underscoring the dramatic and potentially violent nature of the capture. While some Democrats framed the action as an attack on the nation, the Trump administration maintained it was primarily a law enforcement effort.
The incident has already sparked debate over U.S. military involvement abroad, the legality of unilateral regime actions, and the protection of Venezuelan communities both in the country and in New York City. Mayor Mamdani’s response reflects early concerns about civilian safety and adherence to international norms, highlighting the tension between law enforcement objectives and foreign policy implications.