New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he personally contacted Donald Trump to oppose what he described as a direct push for regime change in Venezuela, following the overnight capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mamdani confirmed that he spoke with Trump directly after the president announced that the United States had taken temporary control of Venezuela following a high-risk military operation.
“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,” Mamdani said. He added that the operation contradicted federal and international law and set a dangerous precedent in US foreign policy.
Trump earlier confirmed that US forces had captured Maduro and transported him to New York to face federal drug-trafficking charges. During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela during a transitional period.
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.
Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026“We will run the country until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said. He added that Washington could not risk another leadership takeover that failed to protect Venezuelan interests.
Trump also said major US oil companies would enter Venezuela to rehabilitate the country’s oil infrastructure. Analysts have warned that restoring production capacity could take years despite Venezuela holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Mamdani criticised the operation earlier in the day, calling it “an act of war” and a clear attempt at forced regime change. In a post on X, he said US authorities had briefed him on plans to detain Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in federal custody in New York.
Read: Nicolas Maduro Detained in New York After US Raid
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of international law,” Mamdani wrote, warning that the move could escalate global tensions.
The mayor also expressed concern about the impact on New York’s Venezuelan community. He said tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in the city could face uncertainty and fear following the operation.
“My priority is the safety of every New Yorker,” Mamdani said, adding that city officials would continue to monitor developments and provide guidance if required.
Overnight Operation and Fallout
Trump said US Special Forces carried out a large-scale overnight operation that included air strikes on military sites and caused temporary power outages in parts of Caracas. According to US officials, forces detained Maduro at or near one of his safe houses and transported him offshore before flying him to the United States.
Footage showed an aircraft landing at Stewart International Airport in upstate New York, followed by a heavily guarded convoy arriving at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. Justice Department officials confirmed that Maduro is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Monday. His wife also faces charges, including conspiracy to import cocaine.
Read: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Vows Democratic Socialist Reforms
In Caracas, Delcy Rodriguez appeared on state television with senior officials, condemning the operation and demanding Maduro’s immediate release. She described the raid as a kidnapping and reaffirmed Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president. A Venezuelan court later named Rodriguez interim president.
Legal experts in the United States questioned the legality of seizing a sitting foreign head of state. Several lawmakers also demanded clarity on Washington’s long-term plan for Venezuela, as Trump offered few details on how or when the US would relinquish control.
