Zohran Mamdani condemns Donald Trump for capturing Nicolás Maduro and his wife in New York City calling it an act of war and warning of risks to local Venezuelan communities

The political warmth between Donald Trump and New York City’s new socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has cooled fast.

Just weeks after their friendly Oval Office meeting in November, Mamdani delivered a stinging rebuke of Trump’s recent military operation in Venezuela, calling it an “act of war” and a blatant violation of federal and international law.

The drama unfolded early Saturday as Mamdani, barely three days into office, took to X to voice his concerns.

Mayor Mamdani Steps Into the Fray

In a forceful statement, Mamdani warned that the US military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would directly impact New Yorkers, particularly the city’s large Venezuelan community.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war,” he wrote, emphasizing that his administration would monitor the situation closely and issue guidance to ensure public safety.

For a mayor barely out of the swearing-in ceremony, it was a dramatic and high-profile stance on international affairs.

Trump Announces Maduro’s Extradition

Meanwhile, Trump, speaking from his Florida estate at Mar-a-Lago, confirmed the capture and extradition of Maduro and Flores to New York.

Both have been indicted on drug trafficking charges, accused of orchestrating operations that flooded the United States with cocaine.

Trump hinted at overseeing Venezuela’s administration temporarily, suggesting its oil reserves could finance the country’s “revival,” though he provided few details on logistics.

Conditions at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center

The Venezuelan leader and his wife are expected to be held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

Known for its challenging conditions, the facility has previously housed high-profile figures such as Sean “Diddy” Combs and mobster Luigi Mangione.

The decision to detain Maduro in New York marks an unprecedented moment, raising questions about legal jurisdiction, logistics, and safety.

United Nations Expresses Alarm

The UN has weighed in, with spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric describing the US operation as “deeply alarming” and potentially setting a dangerous precedent.

He highlighted the risks to human rights and the rule of law, warning of wider implications for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The UN called for all actors in Venezuela to exercise restraint and respect international norms.

Allegations of Venezuela’s Drug Trade

The New York indictment portrays Maduro as the head of a corrupt regime that protected and profited from decades of illegal activity, including large-scale cocaine trafficking.

Authorities allege he worked alongside violent narco-terrorists, funneling as much as 250 tons of cocaine into North America by 2020 using planes, container ships, fishing boats, and clandestine airstrips.

The International Implications Are Significant

This extraordinary situation—effectively putting the Venezuelan president and his partner under US custody—has raised eyebrows around the globe.

Mamdani’s intervention underscores how even local leaders can find themselves drawn into international disputes, particularly when the fallout reaches immigrant communities in their cities.

What Comes Next for New York and Beyond

For New Yorkers, especially the tens of thousands of Venezuelan residents, the immediate concern is safety and clarity.

For the broader international community, the event represents a potential shift in precedent for US foreign intervention and raises questions about enforcement of international law.

How the situation unfolds in the coming weeks will likely shape not only the US-Venezuela relationship but also the way domestic leaders respond to foreign crises in urban centers.

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