FROM FOX NEWS: Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump said the U.S. will “hit” drug smugglers attempting to enter the U.S. by land after a series of lethal strikes on cartel boats at sea.
The president was questioned about his use of military force to crack down on drug smugglers in the Caribbean and Pacific following the eighth such strike in recent weeks.
Trump acknowledged “it is violent” but said that “every one of those boats that gets knocked out is saving 25,000 American lives.”
“We have the greatest military in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And you see a little bit of it there, one shot, every one dead center. And the only way you can’t feel bad about it is you realize … that every time you see that happen, you’re saving 25,000 American lives.
“Whenever I see that, I say to myself, I just saved 25,000 lives.”
Trump said, after these strikes, “there are very few boats traveling on the water, so now they’ll come in by land to a lesser extent.
“And they will be hit on land also.”
Trump was asked if he has the legal authority to strike drug smugglers on U.S. territory.
“Yes, we do,” he said. “We do have legal authority.”
Trump said it is a national security problem.
