Act of war: Zohran Mamdani dials Trump, opposes Maduro's capture

Zohran Mamdani said he personally spoke to Donald Trump to oppose the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, calling the action a “unilateral act of war” against a sovereign nation.

Addressing reporters at a press conference, the newly sworn-in mayor said he contacted President Trump “directly” to convey his opposition. “I registered my opposition. I made it clear and we left it at that,” Mamdani said, declining to disclose Trump’s response.

The dramatic international development comes just two days after Mamdani took office as mayor of New York City. On Saturday morning, he was briefed by senior officials from his administration, including his chief of staff and the police commissioner, on the US military operation, the arrest of Maduro and Flores, and their expected transfer to federal custody in New York.