Eric Adams Praises Trump for Maduro Capture, Blasts Fellow Democrats on Stance

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams has made waves by publicly commending former President Donald Trump's operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, while simultaneously criticizing his Democratic peers, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden, for their differing stance.

Adams's strong remarks follow a recent social media video where he appeared to celebrate his post-mayoral freedom, predicting an "unforgettable, bada--, no bull---- 2026." He then pivoted to foreign policy, openly thanking Trump for "hit[ting] the cartels where it hurts" by detaining Maduro.

"I have seen firsthand how Nicolás Maduro destroyed Venezuela and turned it into a narco-state. Millions fled. Thousands landed in New York City," Adams stated, connecting the international action directly to domestic concerns. "Now in U.S. custody, the man who helped flood our streets with fentanyl is finally being held accountable. American lives were destroyed because of him."

Eric Adams, left, and Kamala Harris, right (Michael Santiago/Getty Images)

Adams highlighted that the Biden-Harris administration, just days before leaving office, had increased the bounty on Maduro to $25 million from an Obama-era $10 million. He contrasted this with Harris's subsequent criticism of Trump's action, where she stated that detaining Maduro "do[es] not make America safer" and deemed the move "both unlawful and unwise."

"Public safety is not a political game," Adams declared in response to Harris's earlier comments. "You do not label someone a narco-dictator one year and then pretend he is no longer a threat the next simply because a different president is in office – that is cynical and irresponsible."

The former NYPD officer underscored his position by citing real-life tragedies, including the fentanyl poisoning death of two-year-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici in the Bronx, as evidence of Maduro's far-reaching and dangerous impact. "America is safer today because Maduro is no longer in power," Adams asserted, concluding with a pointed, "Welcome to New York, Nicolás."

Adams's stance also creates a clear ideological divide with his mayoral successor, socialist Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani publicly condemned the U.S. military capture of Maduro and his wife, reportedly contacting Trump to "register my opposition." Mamdani characterized the action as "an act of war and a violation of federal and international law," and a "blatant pursuit of regime change."

Mamdani expressed concern for the potential impact on New Yorkers, particularly the thousands of Venezuelans residing in the city. "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," he said, vowing his administration would "continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance" for their safety.