Trump Defies Congress With Drug Boat Strikes, Bets On Voter Backing
 

 

The White House says Americans overwhelmingly support President Donald Trump’s lethal strikes on alleged drug boats — even as critics accuse him of bypassing Congress and violating the War Powers Act.

 

Administration officials argue the operations in the Caribbean and Pacific fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge to “take on the cartels” and protect Americans from drug traffickers. Since the campaign began in September, the U.S. military has sunk multiple vessels and killed at least 50 suspected smugglers, including 14 in the latest Pacific strike on Monday.

 

A senior White House official said lawmakers were “briefed several times” and that the strikes enjoy broad public backing. “Framing it around drug trafficking connects a national security action to a domestic concern that people understand,” said former Pentagon official Simone Ledeen.

 

Trump himself dismissed concerns about congressional approval, telling reporters: “I can’t imagine they’d have any problem with it. What are they going to say — ‘We don’t want to stop drugs pouring in?’”

 

Vice President JD Vance called the traffickers “literal terrorists,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes will continue “as long as drug routes threaten American lives.”

 

Democrats blasted the policy as unconstitutional, while Sen. Rand Paul — the lone Republican dissenter — accused Trump of carrying out “extrajudicial killings.” “A briefing is not enough to overcome the Constitution,” Paul said, warning the president may be “stretching Congress to its tolerance with this war in Latin America.”

 

Still, GOP leaders have largely closed ranks behind Trump, seeing the strikes as a political winner that ties national defense to the war on drugs — a move one ally described as “an 80–20 issue at the campfire level.”

 

Key Takeaways:

• Unilateral Strikes: Trump orders lethal attacks on suspected drug boats without congressional authorization.

• Public Play: White House says the moves are overwhelmingly supported by voters as self-defense.

• Lone GOP Critic: Sen. Rand Paul calls the operations “extrajudicial killings” and unconstitutional.

 

Source: POLITICO

 

 

 

Nothing new or unusual, for more than the past twenty years US presidents have been ordering the sniping terrorist.

18 minutes ago, Social Media said:

The White House says Americans overwhelmingly support President Donald Trump’s lethal strikes on alleged drug boats — even as critics accuse him of bypassing Congress and violating the War Powers Act.

Yeah, until guys in black vans and balaclavas start blowing away Americans on the street in the name of The War On <insert whatever here>.  Let the extrajudicial killings begin!!!

How specifically did Trump "defy" congress? What congressional action in response to these strikes occurred that Trump ignored or defied?

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

How specifically did Trump "defy" congress? What congressional action in response to these strikes occurred that Trump ignored or defied?

It‘s simple. Breaking the law.

 

„Nobody stands above the law“ isn‘t a one way road.

 

Except for Trump and his admin…

 

Shame on Trump and his admin who disrespect laws and think they stand over them.

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

How specifically did Trump "defy" congress? What congressional action in response to these strikes occurred that Trump ignored or defied?

When you suspect drug smugglers are in international waters, you stop them, board them, and verify whether or not they are smugglers. You don't kill civilians indiscriminately. These are acts of war. The president, by law, must get Congress' approval before going to war.

 

I thought you were smarter than that.

 

 

15 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

When you suspect drug smugglers are in international waters, you stop them, board them, and verify whether or not they are smugglers. You don't kill civilians indiscriminately. These are acts of war. The president, by law, must get Congress' approval before going to war.

 

I thought you were smarter than that.

 

 

 

Then, you'll need to and lock up Obama and Biden, too. They've been acting independent of congress as well. Nothing is specifically being defied, unless you address previous presidents' actions as well.

33 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

It‘s simple. Breaking the law.

 

„Nobody stands above the law“ isn‘t a one way road.

 

Except for Trump and his admin…

 

Shame on Trump and his admin who disrespect laws and think they stand over them.

 

What law has this congress enacted that Trump is "defying?"

2 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Then, you'll need to and lock up Obama and Biden, too. They've been acting independent of congress as well. Nothing is specifically being defied, unless you address previous presidents' actions as well.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeze.

Whataboutism is the weakest reply, a sign you know you are wrong and have no valid retort but feel obligated to try and distract from your ignorant post.

Just now, John Drake said:

 

What law has this congress enacted that Trump is "defying?"

 

I explained quite clearly already. Do I need to draw pictures for you?

19 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Pleeeeeeeeeeeze.

Whataboutism is the weakest reply, a sign you know you are wrong and have no valid retort but feel obligated to try and distract from your ignorant post.

 

No. It's the continuation of an established principle of American actions towards terrorists and pirates. I actually supported Obama killing Anwar al-Awlaki and I thought Joe Biden was right to blow to smithereens Somali terrorists in 2021. None of these people can be pulled over to the curb and asked for their ID? All American presidents for the past 50 years at least have done this. If you're going to go after Trump--and there is plenty to go after him for--you'll need something better than this.

20 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

 

I explained quite clearly already. Do I need to draw pictures for you?

 

You've not quite got it. The headline states that Trump is defying congress, this congress. So what is the action of this congress that he is defying. The headline is hyperbole.

On 10/29/2025 at 5:57 PM, Schoggibueb said:

It‘s simple. Breaking the law.

 

„Nobody stands above the law“ isn‘t a one way road.

 

Except for Trump and his admin…

 

Shame on Trump and his admin who disrespect laws and think they stand over them.

Breaking US law outside US jurisdiction while America acts with impunity. It isn't about the drugs. It's about showing US hard power anywhere. Amazing that not one brave soldier refuses to obey these illegal orders. Killing people for their pensions.