Zohran Mamdani Calls Trump to Defend Maduro as Venezuelan Refugees Celebrate the Fall of the Socialist Dictator in New York and Around the World
On January 3, 2026, following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly stated that he personally called President Donald Trump to express his strong opposition to the action.
Mamdani described the capture as an “act of war” and a violation of international law. He emphasized that his opposition was rooted in rejecting regime change efforts and upholding legal standards consistently.
Multiple reputable news outlets reported this directly, quoting Mamdani from press conferences and statements:
- Fox News: Reported Mamdani said he called Trump to “register [his] opposition” to the capture.
- The New York Times: Noted Mamdani called Trump “to personally object” to the strikes and capture.
- New York Daily News: Quoted him saying he “made it clear” his objection to forcibly removing Maduro.
- The Hindu and TRT World: Confirmed he spoke with Trump “directly” to voice opposition to the “pursuit of regime change.”
- CBS New York and others: Echoed that he registered opposition based on legal and anti-regime-change grounds.
These reports are consistent across sources with varying political leanings, and Mamdani himself referenced the call in public remarks and on X (formerly Twitter).