Trump Posts Footage of ‘Lethal Kinetic Strike’ Against Narcoterrorists in International Waters
Former President Donald Trump has shifted attention from brokering a Middle east ceasefire to highlighting new U.S. military actions against drug trafficking.After concluding a trip to Israel celebrating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Trump posted a video on social media showing the U.S. military destroying a small boat off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people described as “male narcoterrorists.” He stated that under his authority as Commander-in-Chief, the strike targeted a vessel linked to a designated terrorist association involved in narcotrafficking.
This incident marks the fifth time the U.S. military has struck suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, escalating tensions with Venezuelan naval forces.The Trump governance’s strategy treats drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and targets narcotics traffickers as unlawful combatants subject to military force. The proclamation attracted important social media attention, with many supporting the tough stance on cartels, while democrats raised concerns that the strikes may violate U.S. and international law.
President Donald Trump has moved from ending fighting in the Middle East to publicizing new fighting in the war against drugs.
In a social media post published Tuesday afternoon, after wrapping up a whirlwind trip to Israel to celebrate the ceasefire he brokered between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, Trump included video of a small boat being destroyed by the U.S. military just off the coast of Venezuela.
The occupants, whom Trump described as “six male narcoterrorists,” were killed.
“Under my Standing Authorities as Commander-in-Chief, this morning, the Secretary of War, ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility — just off the Coast of Venezuela,” Trump wrote on the social media platform.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO route.”
The video was also published on the social media platform X by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
https://t.co/AYyPZuUsm9 pic.twitter.com/1gY3vBnvqa
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 14, 2025
As CBS News noted, it’s the fifth time the U.S. military has hit suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea — with deadly results.
The strikes have raised tensions in the region between the U.S. Navy and Venezuelan naval vessels.
But they are part of the Trump administration’s strategy of treating suspected drug vessels as military targets and designating drug cartels as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
The administration “has asserted it is treating alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants who must be met with military force,” CBS reported.
Trump’s announcement Tuesday drew plenty of attention on social media.
You would think they would get with the script and stop launching these drug-laden boats. Nobody wants to blow up humans but on the weightier side, nobody wants Americans dying from drugs.
— Bothsidesnow101 (@Bothsidesnow101) October 14, 2025
We voted for this! Narco terrorist cartels killed 1.2 MILLION Americans from drug overdoes between 2000-2023. pic.twitter.com/oDx5s5nEl5
— American Association of Retired Republicans ℠ (@aarr_org) October 14, 2025
it really seems like drug dealers are slow learners
— isabelle scripps (@IsabelleElise10) October 14, 2025
Democrats, however, claim the strikes violate U.S. and international law, according to the Associated Press.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."