Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean
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Trump Declares Drug Cartels 'Unlawful Combatants'
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Above: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, on Sept. 30, 2025. Image copyright: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's bold declaration of war against drug cartels represents decisive action against terrorist organizations who kill 100,000 Americans annually. These well-armed paramilitary groups constitute genuine threats requiring military response, not failed law enforcement approaches that have allowed cartels to operate with impunity for decades.
Democratic narrative
Trump's cartel designation shreds legal precedent by conflating drug trafficking with armed warfare, allowing extrajudicial killings without due process. This dangerous overreach bypasses Congress while targeting loosely organized criminal networks that don't meet organized armed group standards under international law.