President Donald Trump announced Monday that he had authorized a second U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat.
The vessel, manned by suspected narcoterrorists, was destroyed in international waters while transporting narcotics toward the United States.
Trump’s Announcement
“This morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Donald Trump
He said the strike targeted “extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists” from Venezuela.
Three traffickers were killed in action, and no U.S. forces were harmed.
“BE WARNED — IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!” Trump wrote.
He said cartels have killed “millions of American Citizens” for decades.
“This ends now,” he added.
He vowed to dismantle networks fueling the drug trade.
“NO LONGER,” he wrote, “will these cartels poison Americans.”
BE WARNED — IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU! The illicit activities by these cartels have wrought DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES ON AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES, killing millions of American Citizens. NO LONGER. pic.twitter.com/XHTDpWp6h7
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 15, 2025
Second in a Series
The strike was the second of its kind in two weeks.
Earlier this month, a larger vessel carrying 11 members of the Tren de Aragua cartel was destroyed.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just released the video of the U.S. military STRIKING a drug boat from Venezuela heading to America carrying ELEVEN Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists, who were kiIIed in the strike
TRUMP: “Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces… pic.twitter.com/axQAWxjJhm
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 2, 2025
That gang is officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The State Department says Tren de Aragua finances dictator Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro uses cartels to bring drugs into the U.S.
DEA officials say 30 tons of cocaine tied to Maduro have been seized.
U.S. Military Presence
Washington has deployed a strong naval presence near Venezuela.
This includes destroyers, an amphibious squadron, and a nuclear submarine.
Roughly 4,500 personnel support the mission.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strikes will continue.
Sen. John Fetterman voiced support, writing, “Fully support confronting the scourge of cartel drug trafficking.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said narco-terrorists are “enemies of the United States.”
Critics Respond
Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, condemned the strikes.
He called them “an outrageous violation of the law.”
Reed warned the operations could spark war with Venezuela.
Venezuela’s Reaction
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the U.S. of provoking conflict.
He said Washington was deliberately pushing Venezuela into confrontation.
Maduro’s government insisted the first targeted boat was only a fishing vessel.
