Mamdani admits he has no federal security clearance after claiming to be ‘briefed’ on Venezuela operation.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted Monday that

he does not have a federal security clearance, a day after claiming 

he was “briefed” on the U.S. takeover of Venezuelan President 

Nicolas Maduro.

Mamdani was asked directly about his security clearance at 

news conference Monday, ultimately saying he had not yet

received it. The newly sworn-in mayor was the subject of viral

jokes on social media that he had extended his access to

information about the strike in his initial statement.

“You do not have a federal security clearance yet, and has anyone

 from any federal agency contacted you or your team members to 

begin a review to obtain a federal security clearance?” a reporter 

asked.

“That briefing, yes, was conducted by my team,

” Mamdani replied. “And the question of federal security clearance 

is one that comes up again and again.”

“So you have one?” the reporter insisted.
“No, not yet,” the mayor admitted.

This exchange followed Mamdani’s initial statement about the 

Venezuelan operation. It seems he had received inside information 

on the operation.

“This morning I was informed of the capture of Venezuelan 

President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by the US military,

as well as their planned detention in federal custody in New York 

City,” Mamdani wrote on X after news of Maduro’s arrest broke.