US Confirms Sixth Known Vessel Strike Off Venezuela

Published 5 hours ago

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Above: Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Oct. 17, 2025. Image copyright: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

The Trump administration's decision to repatriate the two survivors speaks volumes about the nature of this alleged war on cartels. If they were actual narcoterrorists in an armed conflict with the U.S., they would be worthy of prosecution — and would not be treated like common deportees for sure. That this comes as the U.S. Southern Command chief has announced his retirement in this context only raises more questions.

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Ian Bremmer on X

Pro-Trump narrative

First and foremost, no fishermen would be sailing on a submersible — these men were indeed narcoterrorists attempting to smuggle fentanyl into the U.S — but keeping them in the U.S. would have several legal issues, including the need to turn over sensitive information and the risk of them being granted asylum in the U.S. Given that all valuable information has already been extracted from them, it's better to let them return home and tell their experience.

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