CIA Director John Ratcliffe, left, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch from Mar-a-Lago in Florida as a U.S. military operation is carried out to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Saturday. (Credit: Donald Trump via TruthSocial) (Donald Trump via TruthSocial)
FROM BUS DRIVER TO DICTATOR: NICOLÁS MADURO’S RISE AND FALL IN VENEZUELA
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist inaugurated on New Year's Day, said during a news conference Saturday he discussed the matter with Trump on the phone, pushing back on the commander-in-chief's decision.
"I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act, and to make clear that it was an opposition based on being opposed to a pursuit of regime change, to the violation of federal international law, and a desire to see that be consistent each and every day," Mamdani said. "I registered my opposition, I made it clear, and we left it at that."
The mayor later took to X, claiming the "blatant pursuit of regime change" will directly impact New Yorkers and Venezuelans living in New York City.
"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," Mamdani wrote in the post.
Venezuelans celebrate after President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country, Saturday. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
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However, Venezuelan socialism involves nationalization and central control, which led to an economic collapse and authoritarian drift.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.
She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nyc-mayor-strongly-condemns-trumps-capture-venezuelan-leader-maduro-act-war