Military Action Against Mexican Cartels is ‘On the Table’ [WATCH]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ruled out the possibility of military action against Mexican drug cartels, stating that “all options are on the table” when dealing with foreign terrorist organizations.

During an interview on Fox & Friends Friday morning, Hegseth was asked about potential military responses to cartel violence, particularly as cartels continue to fire at Border Patrol agents and flood the U.S. with fentanyl.

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade pressed Hegseth on whether he, as Secretary of Defense, had the authority to pursue cartels in Mexico.

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Hegseth responded that while the decision ultimately rests with President Donald Trump, the military is prepared to act if necessary.

“Brian, I don’t want to get ahead of the president and I won’t. That’s ultimately going to be his decision,” Hegseth said.

“But let me be clear. All options will be on the table if we’re dealing with what are designated to be foreign terrorist organizations who are specifically targeting Americans on our border.”

Hegseth noted that the military is shifting focus to homeland defense, ensuring the security of the U.S. border after years of prioritizing the borders of other nations.

“We’re finally securing our border. We’ve been securing other people’s borders for a very long time. The military is orienting, shifting toward an understanding of homeland defense on our sovereign territorial border,” he said.

Hegseth emphasized that if further action is needed to stop the cartels from bringing drugs, gangs, and violence into the country, the administration will take necessary measures.

BREAKING: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces that the U.S. Military can now perform special ops against Mexican cartels, following President Trump’s designation of them as terrorist organizations.

“All options are on the table.”

pic.twitter.com/BnhJwkgMEp

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 31, 2025

“The president will make that call. I’ll work with him in that decision-making process. Ultimately, we will hold nothing back to secure the American people,” Hegseth added.

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order designating Mexican drug cartels and other criminal groups as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations and specially designated global terrorists.”

#BREAKING: President Trump has just signed an executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

They can now be targeted with LETHAL FORCE by the U.S. military.

This is HUGE. pic.twitter.com/WAf7HhKVAY

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 21, 2025

The order marked a significant shift in how law enforcement handles counter-narcotics operations, granting authorities expanded powers when dealing with those deemed a threat to national security.

The executive order stated:

“The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs.”

It further described the extent of cartel control over illegal traffic across the southern border:

“The Cartels functionally control, through a campaign of assassination, terror, rape, and brute force nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border of the United States. In certain portions of Mexico, they function as quasi-governmental entities, controlling nearly all aspects of society.”

Trump’s order declared cartel activity an “unacceptable national security risk” to the United States and emphasized the need to combat their influence both inside and outside U.S. borders.

Hegseth’s role as Defense Secretary was secured after a 51-50 confirmation vote in the Senate, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie.

All Democrats opposed his nomination, along with Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski.

With his confirmation settled, Hegseth now faces the challenge of overseeing the Pentagon at a time when the administration is taking a hardline stance on border security and cartel violence.

His remarks on Friday indicate that the Biden-era approach to cartel activity is over, and a new strategy is taking shape under the Trump administration.

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