Donald Trump promised to wage war on the drug cartels poisoning America.
He just took his most aggressive step yet to deliver on that promise.
And Trump gave the military one authorization that has drug cartels scrambling for cover.
Trump escalates cartel fight from law enforcement to military operations
President Trump has secretly authorized military action against Latin American drug cartels that have been classified as foreign terrorist organizations, according to a bombshell report from The New York Post.¹
This represents the most aggressive action Trump has taken against the gangs trafficking deadly drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border.
The authorization moves cartel operations from the purview of federal law enforcement to active military engagement.
The classified order allows US forces to officially engage these cartels in operations on both land and sea – a dramatic escalation in America’s fight against the criminal organizations destroying communities across the country.
"The president is determined to not just dismantle – but completely destroy – [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro’s Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western Hemisphere," a source close to the White House said.²
This isn’t just tough talk from Washington, D.C.
Trump is backing up his words with military action that will strike fear into the hearts of cartel leaders who have grown comfortable operating with impunity.
Multiple terrorist organizations now in the crosshairs
The State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking includes some of the most dangerous criminal enterprises in the Western Hemisphere.
Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles top the list, along with the El Salvador-rooted Mara Salvatrucha, better known as the brutal MS-13 gang.
These aren’t just drug dealers – they’re sophisticated terrorist organizations that have turned entire regions into war zones while flooding American streets with poison.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump publicly discussed authorizing military action against drug cartels operating inside Mexico.
Critics called it extreme, but Trump understood something they didn’t – you can’t fight a war against terrorist organizations with traditional law enforcement tools.
Since taking office, the President has steadily increased pressure on these criminal enterprises through multiple channels.
He’s imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico for their failure to stop drug and human smuggling, while directing immigration agents to specifically target new arrivals with gang connections.
The Maduro connection exposes the scope of the threat
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has been a particular focus of Trump’s anti-cartel strategy, and for good reason.
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, has essentially turned his country into a narco-state where drug cartels operate with government protection.
The Justice and State Departments announced Thursday they would award $50 million to anyone providing information leading to Maduro’s arrest for violating US drug laws.³
That’s not just symbolic – it’s a clear message that Trump views Maduro as a central figure in the drug trafficking operations destroying American lives.
The anti-cartel effort involves coordination among multiple departments, including the Department of Defense, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Treasury.
This level of coordination shows Trump isn’t treating this as a law enforcement problem – he’s treating it as a national security threat requiring a military response.
Trump delivers on his promise to protect American families
Throughout his campaign and presidency, Trump has consistently highlighted the human cost of cartel operations in America.
He’s hosted families impacted by gang violence at the White House and promised to strip cartels of their assets to compensate families affected by what he calls "migrant crime."
This military authorization represents the fulfillment of those promises.
"President Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland," deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said. "Which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations."⁴
The designation as foreign terrorist organizations is crucial because it unlocks military authorities that wouldn’t be available for regular criminal organizations.
This means Trump can deploy the full power of the American military against these groups without the legal restrictions that typically govern domestic law enforcement.
For too long, these cartels have operated as if they’re untouchable, using violence and intimidation to control territory and traffic routes.
They’ve grown rich and powerful by exploiting America’s borders and poisoning American communities with deadly drugs.
Trump’s military authorization sends a clear message – those days are over.
The cartels may have grown comfortable thinking they only had to worry about federal agents and local police.
Now they’re facing the prospect of military engagement from the most powerful military force in the world.
That’s a game changer that will force these terrorist organizations to fundamentally recalculate their operations in the Western Hemisphere.
Trump promised to destroy the cartels, and he’s backing up that promise with the full force of American military power.
¹ Diana Nerozzi, "Trump secretly authorized military force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations," New York Post, August 8, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
