Just days after posting a celebratory video signaling his freedom from government office, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn’t waste time making headlines again—this time by torching fellow Democrats over their reaction to President Donald Trump’s operation to detain Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. And yes, the contrast could not be sharper.

Adams, who recently posted a cigar-in-hand video mocking government dysfunction and promising an “unforgettable, bada--, no bull---- 2026,” followed up by openly applauding Trump’s move against Maduro. While many Democrats rushed to clutch their pearls, Adams thanked President Trump for “hit[ting] the cartels where it hurts” and took direct aim at former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden for their handling of the Venezuelan strongman.

“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 said, speaking from experience rather than a political talking point.

“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,” he added—an inconvenient fact for those suddenly pretending Maduro was just another misunderstood world leader.

Adams also pointed out the glaring inconsistency within his own party. Just days before leaving office, the Biden-Harris administration raised the bounty on Maduro to $25 million from the Obama-era $10 million. Yet Harris now claims Trump’s action “do[es] not make America safer,” calling the detention unlawful and unwise, and insisting Americans “do not want this.” Apparently, accountability is only acceptable when the right people are in charge.

“Public safety is not a political game,” Adams fired back.
“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.”

Backing his argument with real consequences, Adams cited fentanyl deaths in New York, including the tragic case of a 2-year-old Bronx boy, Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, whom he said was poisoned while at daycare—evidence, he argued, of Maduro’s deadly reach far beyond Venezuela’s borders.

“America is safer today because Maduro is no longer in power,” Adams said bluntly, closing with a line that sounded more like law enforcement than politics:
“Welcome to New York, Nicolás.”

Adams’ remarks directly contradicted those of his successor, socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said he personally called President Trump to “register my opposition.” Mamdani described the capture of Maduro and his wife as an “act of war” and a violation of federal and international law, warning that it could impact Venezuelans living in New York City.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war,” Mamdani said, adding that his administration would monitor the situation and issue guidance, while emphasizing his concern for the safety of New Yorkers.

The contrast couldn’t be clearer: one leader focused on accountability and public safety, the other focused on process and protest. And while Democrats argue among themselves, one thing stands out—decisive leadership against narco-dictators sends a powerful message.

At the end of the day, justice being served is something Americans can agree on, and this moment shows that strong action still matters. ??