Trump Orders Military to Go After Cartels

Take this for what you will, given that the story appears in The New York Times, but it sure sounds like this is exactly what Trump would do: authorize the military to go after drug cartels he has designated as foreign terrorist organizations. 

BREAKING: President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations, per the NYThttps://t.co/0xJNp2awWA

— Jacob Wheeler (@JWheelertv) August 8, 2025

I expressed skepticism about the story, not because it is implausible–I believe it is likely true–but because the Times is reporting on a “secret” Trump order. That means that the Times is reporting something leaked to them, and most leaks to the Times come from people opposed to the president. The Times was a key vector for false stories about Trump from figures such as James Comey during Trump’s first term. 

Still, as I said, this sounds exactly like Trump, so I give it 4 stars for plausibility. 

President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the matter.

The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration’s escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Mr. Trump’s continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

The order provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.

U.S. military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the groups, the people familiar with the conversations said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.

To be fair, the Times is a favorite place for administrations to leak out information they want the public to see, but don’t want to publicly announce. Trial balloons are often floated in the Times, but on something like this, you would expect a dramatic announcement, not a whisper in the ear of a hostile reporter. No doubt it will be popular with everybody but the Latin American stooges of the cartels, such as Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum. 

Trump is ratcheting up pressure on cartels and their supporters in power. Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a doubling on the bounty for the capture of President Maduro of Venezuela to $50 million. I tried to get my piece of the bounty by informing the Justice Department that he resides in Caracas, but so far, I haven’t heard back from them about a money transfer to my account. 

Today, @TheJusticeDept and @StateDept are announcing a $50 MILLION REWARD for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. pic.twitter.com/D8LNqjS9yk

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 7, 2025

The Times laughably raises legal issues that may plague Trump in his efforts, suggesting that going after the cartels may be classified as “murder.” Barack Obama, the drone king, had no comment on the matter. 

But directing the military to crack down on the illicit trade also raises legal issues, including whether it would count as “murder” if U.S. forces acting outside of a congressionally authorized armed conflict were to kill civilians — even criminal suspects — who pose no imminent threat.

It is unclear what White House, Pentagon and State Department lawyers have said about the new directive or whether the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has produced an authoritative opinion assessing the legal issues.

Calling Trump a racist bigoted Nazi insurrectionist transphobic murderer is just throat-clearing at the Times anyway. They believe that only Democrats are allowed to be Commanders in Chief, although Democratic Socialists and Communists can apply for the privilege in some cases. 

Antisemitic sentiments required, of course. 

Asked about Mr. Trump’s authorization for military force against the cartels, Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said in an email that “President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.”

The Defense Department declined to comment on the new directive.

Unilateral military assaults on cartels would be a marked escalation in the long drive to curb drug trafficking, putting U.S. forces in a lead role on the front lines against often well-armed and well-financed organizations. A sustained campaign would also likely raise further issues related to Mr. Trump’s push to use the military more aggressively to back a variety of his policies, often in the face of legal and constitutional constraints.

Apparently, it’s not what a president does, but who he is and how he frames the issue that determines its acceptability for the Times. How surprising that The Narrative™ determines its legality and acceptability. 

Perhaps if Trump handed over $80 billion in military weapons and an entire country to a terrorist organization, it would earn him a Times “jazz hands” applause, but I doubt it. That, too, is reserved for Democrats. 

It’s hard to argue with the proposition that drug cartels are a national security threat. More Americans die from drug overdoses in a year than have died in military operations since World War II. 

Over 100,000 per year. Year in, year out. I would call that a national security threat. 

Yet the Times wonders whether killing cartel members would be considered “murder.” Geez. 

The real question is one of prudence. Is a military response the best way to attack the problem, or are there other means available to make progress? 

We can definitely say that law enforcement, apparently the Times’ preferred approach, doesn’t work. It is the equivalent of the Gavin Newsom approach to eliminating homelessness–expensive policies that accomplish little to nothing. 

On the other hand, nobody wants brigades of troops with long logistical supply lines rolling over the Mexican border in tanks to engage in guerrilla warfare on the streets of Mexico’s cities. No doubt Trump is not looking to do that. One might imagine targeted strikes, commando raids, and covert operations. 

It’s hard not to approve of that. At least in my book. 

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