Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams delivers a stinging rebuke to Kamala Harris, calling her response to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s arrest “cynical and irresponsible” with a bold “Welcome to New York, Nicolas.”
Story Highlights
- Eric Adams blasts Harris over her reaction to Maduro’s U.S. capture on narco-terrorism charges.
- Maduro, captured January 3, 2026, faces initial court appearance in Manhattan federal court today.
- U.S. forces executed Operation Absolute Resolve, seizing $700 million in Maduro-linked assets.
- Adams highlights New York City’s role in holding foreign criminals accountable.
- Trump administration’s decisive action contrasts with past weak policies on border security and drugs.
Adams’ Sharp Criticism of Harris
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams publicly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her response to Nicolás Maduro’s arrest. Adams labeled her remarks “cynical and irresponsible,” tying them to Maduro’s transfer to U.S. custody. He quipped “Welcome to New York, Nicolas,” spotlighting Maduro’s scheduled initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on January 5, 2026. This rebuke underscores partisan tensions over U.S. foreign policy on Venezuela, with Adams positioning New York as the hub for justice against narco-terrorists.
Adams, a Democrat who has voiced frustrations with leftist policies, leverages the high-profile case to emphasize accountability. Maduro’s capture marks a rare U.S. action against a sitting foreign leader, reminiscent of the 1989 Noriega operation. This event bolsters conservative priorities of strong national security and combating drug cartels that fuel American border crises.
Maduro’s Capture in Operation Absolute Resolve
U.S. Special Forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on January 3, 2026, during a raid in Caracas as part of Operation Absolute Resolve. Maduro faces charges from a 2020 Department of Justice indictment for narco-terrorism, including cocaine trafficking conspiracies with groups like FARC. The operation involved military strikes on Venezuelan targets, followed by transfer via USS Iwo Jima to Stewart Air National Guard Base and detention at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
A $25 million reward, doubled to $50 million in August 2025—the largest ever for a foreign head of state—preceded the capture. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed a superseding indictment and DOJ seizures of $700 million in luxury properties, jets, and cash linked to Maduro’s regime, which she described as an “organized crime operation.” These actions disrupt narcotics networks threatening American communities.
Trump Administration’s Decisive Leadership
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation and ongoing naval blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, citing Maduro’s drug trafficking as justification. This aligns with President Trump’s commitment to secure borders and dismantle cartels, reversing years of lax enforcement under prior administrations. The blockade and asset seizures economically pressure Maduro’s weakened regime amid Venezuela’s collapse since 2013.
Precedents like the 2021-2023 extradition of Maduro ally Hugo Carvajal from Spain reinforce U.S. resolve. Bondi’s Fox News statement frames the prosecution as essential to national security, setting a precedent for apprehending state actors involved in crime. Conservatives applaud this as a victory against globalist weakness that allowed drugs and illegal immigration to flood America.
JUST IN: Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams SHREDS Kamala Harris for 'Cynical and Irresponsible' Response to Maduro's Arrest – 'Welcome to New York, Nicolas' https://t.co/J0vooGcXWN #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— ⭐Eagle One⭐ (@EagleInTheCloud) January 5, 2026
Venezuelan protests and Democrat criticisms question U.S. intervention, but facts support justice for narco-terrorism. Maduro’s Manhattan hearing today at noon in the Southern District of New York advances accountability. For families hit by fentanyl and border chaos, this delivers long-overdue results, affirming limited government focused on protecting citizens.
Sources:
United States of America v. Nicolás Maduro
