- Mamdani says the operation violated federal and international law.
- He warns that the measure may have direct consequences for Venezuelans in the United States.
- The mayor says he is monitoring the situation and can issue guidance if necessary.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he personally called President Donald Trump to object to what he described as a “quest for regime change” in Venezuela, following the overnight capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
President Trump announced Saturday that he was placing Venezuela under temporary U.S. control after the United States captured President Nicolás Maduro in a daring raid and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
“We will lead the country until such time as we can make a safe, appropriate and judicious transition,” Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “We cannot take the risk of someone taking over Venezuela and not having the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”
Trump also said that as part of the acquisition, major American oil companies would move to Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, and restore badly degraded oil infrastructure, a process that experts said could take years.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mamdani said he had contacted Trump “directly” to make his position clear.
“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this law,” he said.
Mamdani said his objection was based on opposition to a “quest for regime change” and actions that he believes run counter to federal and international law, which he said should be applied consistently.
Previously, the mayor described the US military operation that led to Maduro’s capture as “an act of war” and a “blatant pursuit of regime change.”
In a post on X, Mamdani said he had been informed about the operation and plans to detain Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in federal custody in New York City.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” he said, warning that the move marked a dangerous escalation in US foreign policy.
Mamdani said the consequences of the operation would not be limited to Venezuela and could directly affect tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in New York.
“My focus is your safety and the safety of every New Yorker,” he said, adding that his administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue guidance if necessary.
His comments came after President Trump announced that US forces had carried out a “large-scale attack” in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife. Trump later said the two would be flown to New York to face federal charges.
Overnight Dramatic Action
As part of the dramatic overnight operation that cut power to parts of Caracas and included attacks on military installations, US Special Forces captured Maduro at or near one of his safe houses, Trump said.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transported to a US Navy ship at sea before being flown to the United States on Saturday night.
The video showed a plane arriving at Stewart International Airport about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of New York City, with several U.S. personnel boarding the plane after landing. A Justice Department official confirmed that Maduro had landed in New York, and video later showed a large convoy arriving at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn under a heavy police presence.
Maduro, who was indicted on several U.S. charges, including narcoterrorism conspiracy, is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, according to a Justice Department official. His wife also faces charges, including conspiracy to import cocaine.
It is unclear how Trump plans to supervise Venezuela. US forces have no control over the country itself, and the Maduro government appears not only to remain in charge but also unwilling to cooperate with Washington. Trump did not say who would lead Venezuela when the United States relinquishes control.
Maduro’s apparent successor, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, appeared on Venezuelan television Saturday afternoon with other top officials to denounce what she called a kidnapping.
“We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodríguez said, calling Maduro “the only president of Venezuela.” A Venezuelan court subsequently ordered Rodríguez to take over as interim president.
In the United States, some legal experts questioned the legality of an operation to capture the head of state of a foreign power, and Democrats, who said they were misled during recent briefings, demanded a plan for what would come next.
