Trump Administration Continues Lethal Strikes on Alleged Drug Smugglers at Sea

President Donald Trump has publicly vowed to continue and expand the Trump administration's military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly involved in drug trafficking to the United States. These strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people, including some aboard boats later identified as fishing vessels with no proven links to drug smuggling. Trump has stated he does not plan to seek a formal declaration of war from Congress for these actions, emphasizing a direct, lethal approach to those suspected of drug trafficking, declaring, "We're going to kill them, you know, they're going to be, like, dead." While the administration claims these operations have significantly reduced illegal drug imports by sea, critics, including Sen. Rand Paul, have condemned the strikes as "summary executions." Trump has also indicated plans to target drug trafficking over land, anticipating congressional support except from what he terms "radical left lunatics." The controversy centers on the absence of publicly presented proof of narcotics on the targeted vessels and concerns over potential civilian casualties.