New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confronted President Donald Trump regarding the U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to a report by the New York Times. Mamdani shared that he called the president on Saturday to express his opposition to the operation.
“I called the president to voice my objection to this action,” Mamdani told reporters at a separate news conference. He clarified that he opposed “a pursuit of regime change” and considered the move a breach of both federal and international law.
When asked about Trump’s response, Mamdani declined to elaborate. His aides confirmed that Mamdani had initiated the call earlier that day and that the conversation was short. “I made my opposition clear, and that was the end of it,” he said.
This exchange marked Mamdani’s first public confrontation with Trump since assuming office on Thursday. Tensions are likely to rise in the coming days, as Maduro is expected to travel to New York to face federal charges related to drugs and weapons.
Though Mamdani and Trump have consistently disagreed on various issues—Mamdani has even called Trump a “fascist”—the two maintained a cordial tone during a meeting at the White House in November. Since then, the mayor had been cautious about provoking Trump, even in his inaugural speech this week. However, on Saturday, he tried to downplay any tension resulting from the phone call.
“The president and I have always been open and direct with each other about our disagreements,” Mamdani said. “I was elected by New Yorkers to be honest and transparent, and I will always act in their best interests.”
Despite his objections to the federal operation, Mamdani acknowledged his limited influence over the case against Maduro. “My job is to ensure that whatever actions the federal government takes, they do not disrupt the daily lives of New Yorkers,” he said.
