Trump orders deadly strikes on Venezuelan boats amid drug allegations

In recent weeks, the Trump administration faced significant backlash after two military strikes on Venezuelan boats in international waters resulted in civilian casualties. These operations, which the president authorized, reportedly led to the deaths of 11 individuals in one strike and three in another, with Trump alleging that the vessels were linked to drug trafficking. Critics have raised serious concerns regarding the legality of these actions, emphasizing that standard procedures were ignored; typically, U.S. officials would intercept and search such vessels rather than resort to lethal force. Trump's claims that 300 million people died from drug-related issues in the previous year were met with skepticism, considering the statistics did not add up and highlighted a flawed understanding of drug fatalities in America. Amid this controversy, Trump attempted to justify his actions by asserting that the substances onboard posed a direct threat to American lives, although further details about the vessels and their crew remain unclear. As the American public and lawmakers demand accountability, the White House has struggled to provide a solid defense for its military operations, raising questions about the appropriateness of Trump's approach to addressing drug trafficking in international waters.