NEW YORK January 3, 2026 – In a striking early act of his mayoral tenure, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani publicly condemned the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, revealing that he personally telephoned President Donald Trump to register his opposition.
The comments, delivered during a press conference in Brooklyn on Saturday, quickly went viral, amassing over 15,000 likes and hundreds of reposts on X within hours. A clip shared by the account @clashreport captured Mamdani at a podium flanked by supporters holding signs reading “Make McGuinness Safe,” stating: “I called Trump and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act.”
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who assumed office just days ago, framed the overnight U.S. operation in Venezuela as “an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.” In a statement posted to his official X account earlier that morning, he elaborated: “I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City. […] This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home.”
The clip sparked a firestorm online. Critics, including conservative commentators, mocked Mamdani’s intervention, with one X user quipping, “Who does this guy think he is?” Others highlighted irony, noting Venezuelan exiles in NYC cheering Maduro’s fall.
Supporters praised his boldness, aligning with his progressive record on issues like Palestine and housing affordability. Mamdani’s office has not responded to requests for further comment on the call’s details.
his episode marks a bold federal-local clash in Trump’s second term, as Mamdani—NYC’s first Muslim mayor—signals readiness to challenge Washington on global matters.
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