VP Vance Defends US Strike Killing 11 Venezuelan Cartel Members

Vice President JD Vance staunchly defended the Trump administration's military strike on a Venezuelan boat tied to the Tren de Aragua cartel, which killed 11 people, dismissing accusations that the action constituted a war crime. Vance stated that killing cartel members who poison U.S. citizens is the "highest and best use of our military," rejecting criticism about the lack of due process and international law concerns. The strike was carried out in international waters, targeting a vessel allegedly carrying drugs, with President Trump highlighting the administration's commitment to combating drug cartels and considering further strikes inside Venezuela. Critics, including legal experts and political commentators like Brian Krassenstein, argued the strike could be classified as an extrajudicial killing and a war crime, emphasizing the rights of those killed under international law. Vance responded bluntly to these criticisms on X, saying he does not care what it is called and emphasizing the administration's focus on protecting Americans from drug trafficking. The exchange underscores the administration's aggressive stance on drug cartels and the contentious debate over the legality and morality of using lethal military force in such operations.