One official told ABC News that lawmakers see this as the administration “essentially waging a secret war against secret enemies, without the consent of Congress.”
Legal scholars warn that conflating drug trafficking with terrorism sets a dangerous precedent. As one expert put it, “Putting drug runners in the same camp as al-Qaida fighters is a leap that has never been made in U.S. law.”
White House Response
At a press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the strikes:
“The president has been very clear, dating back to the campaign trail, that he is always going to do what’s in the best interest of the American homeland.”
The administration also maintains that Venezuelan cocaine shipments contribute to U.S. overdose deaths and accuses President Nicolás Maduro of facilitating trafficking. Trump has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro’s arrest, though Maduro has repeatedly denied involvement.
US Escalation to Stop Narcoterrorists
With eight U.S. Navy ships, F-35 jets, and MQ-9 Reaper drones now operating in the Caribbean, experts warn the strikes may become more frequent.
