Mamdani’s Fake ‘Briefing’ Exposed in NYC

What Mamdani told New Yorkers

After news broke that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been captured and indicted in the Southern District of New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on X that he had been “briefed” about the U.S. military action and the planned federal custody in New York City. His message warned that a unilateral strike is an act of war and said his administration would monitor the situation. That sounded official and serious. It also sounded like someone had been read into a federal operation they had no business being read into.

Reporters pressed for details

A reporter asked the obvious question: who gave the briefing and did the mayor have federal security clearance to receive it. The question matters because official briefings on military or law enforcement operations normally require security clearances and formal channels. Instead of producing a name or agency, Mamdani said the briefing was conducted by his own team. That is not the same thing as a federal read in. The distinction is important and it is the part he could not avoid when pushed.

I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City.

Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and…

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026

I said it before: Mayor Zohran Mamdani does not have federal security clearance. When asked directly by a reporter, he initially danced around the question—then ultimately answered “NO,” confirming he does not have clearance.
That means he was not briefed on Nicolás Maduro or any… pic.twitter.com/5mURMFRfMR

— Lattina Brown, MPA 🇯🇲🇺🇸 (@LattinaBrown) January 5, 2026

He admitted he lacks federal clearance

When asked directly if he has the federal security clearance needed to be briefed on military captures or sensitive custody plans, Mamdani first dodged and then said the clearance process is ongoing. When pressed again he answered no. So the mayor publicly implied he was officially briefed about a major federal operation, and then confirmed he does not hold the federal clearance that would make that claim true. That sequence looks a lot like flexing influence that does not exist.

Why this matters to voters

It is not just a PR mistake. Elected officials should not imply access to federal intelligence or military operations when they do not have it. Misleading language erodes trust and confuses residents about who is making decisions in crises. New Yorkers deserve clarity, not political theater. If a mayor is going to weigh in on national security matters, he should be clear about his sources and his actual authority. Otherwise the public is left to wonder whether statements are informed or performative.

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JIMMY

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