President Trump on Thursday rejected the need to ask Congress for a declaration of war as the US military starts frequent attacks On boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
“I don’t think we would necessarily be asking for a declaration of war,” Trump told reporters. “I think we’re going to kill the people who are bringing drugs into our country. OK? We’re going to kill them.”
Since September, the president has authorized several attacks on alleged drug boats off the Venezuelan coast, killing at least 32 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said on Wednesday that a total of five “narco-terrorists” had been killed. Tuesday And Wednesday Attacks on two separate alleged drug trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific.
The administration has not provided evidence of its claim that the boats are smuggling drugs.
Trump too Confirmed Last week he authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela and the administration has increased the US military presence in the region by deploying Navy ships and Marines. The moves are part of a pressure campaign against Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration said on Wednesday can go to congress For the right to attack alleged cartel members smuggling drugs on land.
According to Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution, Congress has the sole power to declare war. However, former Presidents George W. Bush, Obama and Biden bypassed the legislative branch in authorizing drone strikes against perceived adversaries during their tenures. Obama And trumpDuring their first term, the two oversaw several drone strikes.
The attacks have drawn a strong response from Democrats on Capitol Hill and from moderate Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who have argued that the administration needs congressional authorization to carry out the attacks.
“We’ll probably go back to Congress and explain what we’re doing when [they] Come to the ground,” the president told reporters while sitting alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Earlier this month, a resolution sponsored by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff (Calif.) and Tim Kaine (Va.) to prevent strikes fail Through a 48-51 vote. Paul and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to support the resolution, while John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against it.
