(NewsNation) — Former Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is backing Zohran Mamdani amid differing rhetoric between him and President Donald Trump on the administration’s capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Mamdani criticized the strikes by the Trump administration, which led to Maduro’s capture, despite widespread celebrations among Venezuelans in their home country and abroad.
“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,” Mamdani said Saturday during a press conference. The new mayor added he was “opposed to a pursuit of regime change, to the violation of federal and international law.”
Speaking to “The Hill on NewsNation,” de Blasio backed Mamdani for his condemnation of the military actions.
“I think Mamdani is standing up for the United States Constitution, which says you don’t go to war without the Congress approving,” de Blasio said.
“You just can’t do that without the Congress weighing in first, because it has created a situation of war with another country,” he added.
Mamdani also rebuked the U.S. strikes and military capture via X on Saturday.
“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” he said.
“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home.”