New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he personally called President Donald Trump to criticise US military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Mr Mamdani said he told the president he opposed what he described as a pursuit of regime change and a violation of federal and international law.
“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,” Mr Mamdani said. He added that the conversation was brief and that he chose not to describe Mr Trump’s response.
The White House did not immediately comment on the call.
The remarks mark the first public criticism of President Trump by Mr Mamdani since he took office as mayor earlier this week. The two men met at the White House in November, a meeting described at the time as unexpectedly cordial.
Mr Mamdani, a left-leaning Democrat, has previously described Mr Trump as a fascist, but had avoided direct confrontation since becoming mayor. He said on Saturday that disagreement did not prevent honest communication.
“The president and I have always been honest and direct with each other about places of disagreement,” he said.
The comments come as Mr Maduro is expected to arrive in New York to face federal drug and weapons charges in Manhattan. Mr Mamdani acknowledged that he has no authority over federal legal proceedings, even if Mr Maduro is held within the city.
“It is my responsibility that whatever actions the federal government takes, they have a minimal impact on the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers,” he said.
In a written statement, the mayor said US actions abroad could directly affect residents of New York, which is home to tens of thousands of Venezuelans.
“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad,” he said. “It directly impacts New Yorkers.”
Mr Mamdani added that his administration would continue to monitor the situation and issue guidance where necessary, saying his priority was the safety of all New Yorkers.
Before Saturday, the mayor had said little publicly about Venezuela or US policy in Latin America, despite being a vocal critic of American support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The situation raises the prospect of future political clashes between City Hall and the White House as events surrounding Venezuela continue to unfold.
Follow on Google News
