Trump’s “Narco-Terrorist” strikes are illegal political theater

Behind the tough talk of “narco-terrorists” lies a dangerous mix of politics, propaganda, and disregard for the rule of law.

The Trump administration has now carried out two lethal strikes in international waters on vessels said to have departed Venezuela. In both cases, Donald said that the boats carried “narco-terrorists.” The September 15 strike killed three people. The earlier September 2 strike killed 11.

The administration has shown the public zero evidence that these people were terrorists at all. Instead, it feels like we’re watching a ridiculous political stunt disguised as a profane version of propagandized counterterrorism.

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The facts — as Trump tells them

On September 15 Donald announced on Truth Social that U.S. forces struck a ship “positively identified” as belonging to “violent drug-trafficking cartels and narco-terrorists.” He said the vessel was transporting narcotics toward the United States, and claimed three “male terrorists” were killed. (CNN, 9/15/25)

That followed a September 2 strike in which 11 people were killed. The administration claimed that vessel was connected to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang Trump recently labeled a narco-terrorist group. (Reuters, 9/2/25)

But according to CNN reporting, Trump’s lackeys have not provided proof. A source familiar with the first strike even said the vessel “turned around at one point,” casting doubt on whether it posed any imminent threat. (CNN, 9/15/25)

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Lawmaker calls bullshit

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, put it bluntly:

“There is no evidence — none — that this strike was conducted in self-defense. … Under both domestic and international law, the US military simply does not have the authority to use lethal force against a civilian vessel unless acting in self-defense.” (CNN, 9/15/25)

Even if these were drug traffickers, U.S. law does not permit summary execution. We arrest, indict, and try alleged lawbreakers, including the convicted felon currently residing in the White House. We don’t bomb boats based on his word.

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Trump’s invented “narco-terrorists”

Here’s where the nonsense comes in. Although Narcoterrorism is a real thing, Trump’s “Narco-terrorist” label is dubious ant best. It’s a half baked political talking point that Donald Trump and Marco Rubio wield when they want to sound tough.

Wikipedia says that narcoterrorism “in its original context, is understood to refer to the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of a government or a society through violence and intimidation, and to hinder the enforcement of anti-drug laws by the systematic threat or use of such violence. As with most definitions of terrorism, it typically only refers to non-state actors.” (Wikipedia)

Terrorism has a definition. Narcotics trafficking has a definition. Narcoterrorism has a definition. Smashing the words together to mean something new doesn’t magically create nonexistent authority for assassination at sea.

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Why Trump is doing this?

For me, two motives stand out.

1. Maduro and Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro is one of the few dictators that Trump doesn’t like. He treats him like a personal enemy. These strikes look less like counter-narcotics operations and more like political retribution against a guy Donald despises.

2. Campaign lies that need validation. In 2024, Trump told Americans that Venezuela was “emptying its prisons and mental institutions” and sending hordes of criminals to the southern border. That was a lie then, and it’s a lie now. By inventing “narco-terrorists” and killing people at sea, Trump is trying to retroactively prove himself right — and keep alive his fantasy of an “invasion” from Venezuela.

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The bottom line

The village idiot wants MAGA constituents to believe he’s protecting them from an invading army of Venezuelan “narco-terrorists.” I may be naive, but I think this type of abject Trumpian stupidity is even starting to wear thin on them.

Irrespective, the consequences of such stupidity is catastrophic and criminal: he’s executing people at sea with no evidence, no due process, and no accountability.

Even if those killed were drug traffickers, the United States doesn’t hand down death sentences from the Oval Office. We try cases in court and honor the rule of law. That’s the Constitution.

Trump is a spoiled, unaccountable, 79 year old toddler substituting propaganda for proof and violence for justice. At the very least he’s a geopolitical embarrassment. At most, he’s now a dangerous, mentally unstable, international pariah with unchecked power.

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Just so you know—I use AI in drafting, but I always polish, fact-check, and rewrite until it’s mine.