Trump Jr hits back at Mamdani, says Venezuelans are ‘ecstatic’ after Maduro capture

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump Jr has sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, escalating a political dispute over the fallout of the operation and its impact on Venezuelan living in the United States.

Trump Jr.’s remarks came after Mamdani condemned the mission as an “act of war” and a “blatant pursuit of regime change,” warning that the move could endanger New York City’s large Venezuelan community. The mayor said the operation raised serious concerns about international law and public safety, particularly if Maduro and Flores were to be detained in federal custody in New York.

Donald Trump Jr fires back at NYC Mayor's ‘act of war’ comments

Responding on X, Trump Jr rejected Mamdani’s criticism and claimed the capture was broadly welcomed by Venezuelans who had fled the Maduro government. He argued that many Venezuelans living in the US had escaped an authoritarian regime and viewed the arrest as a long-awaited step toward accountability.

“In all fairness there’s tens of thousands of Venezuelans in NYC and hundreds of thousands in other cities all over America because they had to flee the dictatorial regime there,” Trump Jr. wrote. “The people of Venezuela and all the actual Venezuelans in South Florida that I’ve seen are ecstatic.” 

The post quickly drew attention online, amplifying the clash between the Trump family and the newly inaugurated New York City mayor over US foreign policy and domestic security implications.

Donald Trump Jr fires back at Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s ‘act of war’ comments’

Following the capture of Maduro, Donald Trump Jr. directly challenged Mayor Mamdani’s characterization of the mission. He maintained that the intervention had strong support among Venezuelans who had suffered under the Maduro government, particularly those now living in American cities with large diaspora populations.

Trump Jr. framed Mamdani’s criticism as disconnected from the experiences of Venezuelans who fled economic collapse and political repression. He pointed to South Florida, home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the US, as evidence of widespread approval for the operation.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemns US military capture of Nicolas Maduro

Mayor Mamdani, meanwhile, described the operation as a violation of international sovereignty and federal law. He said he had been briefed on the situation and confirmed that Maduro and Flores were expected to be held in federal custody in New York City.

“I was briefed this morning on the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City,” Mamdani said in a statement.

In a separate post on X, the mayor warned that unilateral military action against a sovereign nation could have direct consequences for New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who live in the city. He said his administration would continue monitoring the situation and issue guidance focused on public safety.

Venezuela faces uncertainty as Nicolas Maduro is transferred to US custody

Venezuela has since entered a period of heightened uncertainty following what US officials described as “Operation Absolute Resolve.” The Venezuelan Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume presidential authority as the country entered a state of emergency.

According to US officials, Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores were flown from Caracas to Stewart Air National Guard Base before being transferred to federal custody. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where they are expected to face multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.