Trump’s Military Actions Against Drug Smugglers Spurred Legal Controversy

President Donald Trump’s approval of military strikes against drug smuggling boats is being challenged by reports that highlight negative language from unnamed sources and officials. A report said that President Trump and his top White House aides pushed for lethal strikes on Western Hemisphere drug traffickers, with multiple current and former officials familiar with the debates. Rarely are the so-called “officials” named or directly quoted. A report Saturday frames comments such as “critics say,” “two people familiar with the matter,” “said one person familiar with the legal debate,” and presents a claim of fear for speaking in the open because of the matter’s sensitivity.

Legal experts and some lawmakers argue that using military force in international waters against alleged criminals bypasses due process, violates law enforcement norms, lacks a clear legal foundation under U.S. and international law, and is not justified by the cartels’ terrorist designation. Trump took immediate action against drug smuggling with an Executive Order issued shortly after his inauguration for a second term, when he designated drug cartels as enemies of America, “DESIGNATING CARTELS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIALLY DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRAINS.”

A group of Democrats released a video this week urging military service personnel to “refuse illegal orders” from President Trump. Those participating in the call to action were Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.

The reaction continues to reverberate after immediate pushback from Trump, who said the lawmakers were “in serious trouble” and declared, “These are people that, in my opinion, broke the law.” Trump said, “I’m not threatening them, but I think they’re in serious trouble.”

On Sunday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth posted about one of the latest strikes against a drug smuggling boat and said, “Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics.”