WASHINGTON: New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani has issued a forceful condemnation of the United States’ military invasion of Venezuela and the arrest of that country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, calling the action an act of war.
In a statement released on social media platform X, Mayor Mamdani confirmed he was briefed on the operation, which will see the detained Venezuelan leader held in federal custody in New York City. The Mayor stated that a “unilateral invasion of a sovereign state is tantamount to war and is a clear violation of international law.”
Mamdani’s remarks come directly after former President Donald Trump, speaking at a press conference in Florida, announced criminal charges against Maduro and declared the couple would be transferred to New York to “be brought to justice.”
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
The Mayor framed the crisis not only as a foreign policy issue but as a direct concern for the safety and stability of New York City itself. He highlighted the potential impact on the city’s large Venezuelan community, stating the “open agenda of regime change… directly affects the citizens of New York, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home.”
Prioritizing local safety, Mayor Mamdani assured residents that his administration is “closely monitoring the situation and will continue to issue guidance as needed.” The statement sets up a potential jurisdictional and political conflict between New York City leadership and federal authorities, as the city prepares to become the epicenter of an unprecedented international legal and diplomatic storm.
