"Trump issued an executive order on Monday declaring fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction" that could be weaponized for "concentrated, large-scale terror attacks by organized adversaries." Experts say fentanyl is not used as a weapon and dismissed the order as a public relations ploy as the administration struggles to explain its legal justification for waging a deadly international drug war without approval from Congress."
"The administration has spent months attempting to tie Maduro, and Venezuelans more broadly, to drug crimes in the U.S. while labeling such crimes as terrorism. After taking office, Trump declared the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua a "foreign terrorist organization" and called Maduro a "narco-terrorist" while rounding up Venezuelan immigrants and removing them to a notorious El Salvadoran prison. Most had no criminal convictions."
An executive order designates fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction," claiming it could be used for concentrated large-scale terror attacks. Experts counter that fentanyl is not used as a weapon and characterize the order as a public relations maneuver lacking clear legal justification for military actions without Congressional approval. The administration has escalated military activity in the Caribbean and Pacific, including naval buildups, a blockade around Venezuela, airstrikes, and boat sinkings tied to alleged drug trafficking. Reports attribute at least 28 boats sunk and more than 100 deaths since September. Cuts to federal public health programs threaten progress in reducing synthetic-opioid overdose deaths.
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