NEW YORK — In a sharp political confrontation just three days into his term, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has directly challenged President Donald Trump over the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Mayor Mamdani, who was sworn in on January 1, 2026, as the city’s first Democratic Socialist mayor, announced on Saturday that he had spoken personally with President Trump to register his strong opposition to the raid. Mamdani described the operation, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” as “an act of war” and a violation of international law.
The Conflict
The tension between City Hall and the White House erupted hours after U.S. forces launched a massive overnight strike in Caracas, Venezuela. The operation, which involved over 150 aircraft and elite Special Operations troops, resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
While President Trump hailed the mission as a flawless victory for justice, stating that the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela to ensure stability, Mayor Mamdani offered a starkly different assessment.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” Mamdani said in a statement released Saturday. He later confirmed to reporters that he had called the President directly. “I registered my opposition. I made it clear, and we left it at that.”
Operation Absolute Resolve
According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation was the culmination of months of planning. U.S. forces, including Delta Force and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, infiltrated Maduro’s compound under the cover of a citywide blackout.
General Caine reported that U.S. forces suffered no casualties during the extraction. The captured leader was transported to the USS Iwo Jima before being flown to Stewart International Airport, north of New York City, to face federal narco-terrorism charges.
A Local Issue
For Mayor Mamdani, the operation is not just a foreign policy dispute but a local safety concern. With Maduro expected to be held and tried in New York, the Mayor emphasized the potential impact on the city, which is home to tens of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants.
“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad; it directly impacts New Yorkers,” Mamdani stated. He noted that his administration focuses on the safety of all residents, implying concerns that the trial could spark unrest or anxiety within the city’s large Venezuelan community.
Political Shift
The clash marks a significant pivot in the relationship between the two leaders. Following Mamdani’s election victory in November 2025, he and President Trump held a surprisingly cordial meeting at the Oval Office, where they discussed shared interests despite their ideological chasm.
However, the capture of a foreign head of state has drawn a clear line in the sand. Mamdani’s vocal opposition aligns him with other progressive leaders who have criticized the legality of the strike, setting the stage for potential friction between New York City and the federal government as the high-profile trial of Maduro approaches.
As Maduro arrives in New York to face justice, the city prepares for the logistical and political fallout of hosting one of the most controversial trials in recent history.
Sources
- Perplexity AI: NYC Mayor Mamdani Directly Challenges Trump
- The New York Times: Mamdani Challenges Trump on Venezuela
- Fox News: NYC Mayor Strongly Condemns Trump’s Capture of Venezuelan Leader
- BBC News: US Forces Capture Maduro
- CBS News New York: Mamdani and Trump Call After Maduro Captured
- The Hill: US Forces Capture Maduro
- Business Insider: Top General Details US Military Raid
- NY Post: Mamdani and Other NY Lefties Rip Trump Over Maduro Arrest
- Wall Street Journal: Gen. Caine Details Operation Absolute Resolve
