Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her response to the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro “cynical and irresponsible.”
On Saturday night, Harris released a statement condemning President Donald Trump following a U.S. forces raid in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela won’t make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” she posted on X. “Even though Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, this mission was illegal and unwise. We’ve seen this before. War for regime change often ends in chaos, and American families end up paying for it.”
Harris continued, “The American people are tired of being misled. This isn’t just about drugs or democracy. It’s more about oil and Trump’s ambition to be a regional power. If you were truly concerned about those issues, you wouldn’t overlook Venezuela’s legitimate opposition or pardon convicted drug traffickers while making deals with Maduro’s allies.”
She argued that Trump’s approach has endangered U.S. troops, squandered resources, and destabilized Venezuela without any plan for withdrawal.
“America needs leadership that focuses on reducing costs for families, upholding the law, strengthening alliances, and, above all, prioritizing Americans,” she concluded.
Adams responded on Sunday morning, highlighting that the Biden-Harris administration had raised the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $25 million earlier this year. Previously, under Trump, it was set at $15 million, and was even increased to $50 million before Maduro’s recent detention.
“Security shouldn’t be a political matter,” Adams stated. “You can’t label someone a narco-dictator one year and act like they’re no longer a threat the next just because a different president is in charge. That’s just cynical and irresponsible.”
He pointed out that Maduro’s drugs have resulted in numerous American deaths, including that of 2-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici, who tragically succumbed to fentanyl poisoning at a Bronx daycare. “Can you imagine being his parent and watching this unfold?” Adams asked.
In September 2023, it was reported that Dominici had ingested fentanyl while under the care of daycare operator Gray Mendez, who later pleaded guilty to federal charges after police investigations revealed the drug had been carelessly placed on a play mat.
Adams ended with, “America is safer today because Maduro is no longer in power. Welcome to New York, Nicolas.” As for Maduro, he is expected to appear in New York’s Southern District on Monday facing multiple charges related to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses, as reported by NewsNation.
