Mamdani condemns Venezuela operation, calls it "an act of war"

• New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks after posting about the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was briefed on what he described as the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, alleging they are slated for imprisonment in federal custody in New York City.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Mamdani wrote that he had been informed of “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.”

Mamdani condemned the operation, calling it illegal under both U.S. and international law.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” he wrote.

He also warned that the abduction would have direct consequences for New York City residents, particularly members of the city’s Venezuelan community.

“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,” Mamdani said, adding that his administration’s priority was public safety.

“My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance,” he wrote.