Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• U.S. Southern Command conducted 70th strike on Caribbean boat, killing four people — U.S. Southern Command reported on October 4 that it struck another small boat in the Caribbean, killing four people it characterized as "narco-terrorists." This strike brings the total to more than 70 strikes over the past year, resulting in more than 230 deaths. The administration has justified the strikes by claiming, without public evidence, that those on the boats were drug traffickers, though such charges would normally be handled through the legal system. The Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion providing legal justification for the strikes.
• Federal judge ordered disclosure of boat-strike legal memo — On an unspecified date before October 6, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to produce the Office of Legal Counsel memo justifying the boat strikes and to disclose who else has reviewed it. The judge's order was issued to evaluate whether the memo should be released to the public.

Supporting reports

• U.S. military prepares to board Iran-linked tankers and seize ships in international waters — According to U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. military is preparing in coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, expanding its naval crackdown beyond the Middle East.
• U.S. military prepared to seize Iranian-linked oil tankers in international waters — The U.S. military announced preparation to board and seize commercial vessels linked to Iran in international waters as part of efforts to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abandon its nuclear program. The operation, termed "Economic Fury," follows the U.S. Navy's prior forcing of 23 ships to turn back from Iranian ports. The administration intends to take control of vessels globally that provide material support to Iran, including "dark fleet" vessels carrying Iranian oil.
• General Daniel Caine announced pursuit of Iranian-flagged vessels and dark fleet ships — General Daniel Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that the U.S. military would "actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," including dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. Dark fleet vessels are defined as illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions, insurance requirements, or other legal obligations.

Supporting reports

• Trump stated intention to seize Venezuelan oil resources — President Trump stated that the administration wants to reclaim oil rights in Venezuela that were allegedly taken away during previous administrations. He framed the objective as recovering resources that "we had" and that "they took it away because we had a president that maybe wasn't watching." The statement indicates that military action toward Venezuela is motivated by resource extraction rather than stated concerns about drugs or humanitarian issues.

Supporting reports

• Trump declares Venezuela a "foreign terrorist organization" and orders naval blockade — Trump announced a "total and complete blockade" of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela and designated the Venezuelan government a "foreign terrorist organization" (FTO). The U.S. Navy deployed 11 ships, including an aircraft carrier, to the region. Legal experts note the FTO designation is legally murky because U.S. law targets non-state organizations, not sovereign governments. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles stated Trump "wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle," suggesting regime change rather than counterterrorism as the objective. The administration seized one tanker carrying 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan crude valued at approximately $95 million.
• Trump declares "total and complete blockade" on Venezuelan oil tankers — On Truth Social, Trump declared a "TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or departing Venezuela. Trump also warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that the US "will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States IMMEDIATELY."
• Trump orders naval blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers — President Trump announced a "total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro's government. The order follows weeks of military strikes in the region that have killed dozens and the recent U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude. Trump stated the blockade aims to prevent Venezuela from funding drug trafficking. The Venezuelan government rejected the order as a "grotesque threat" and act of piracy; Democratic congressman Joaquin Castro called it an unauthorized act of war.
• Trump Announces Total Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Tankers — President Trump announced a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, citing the Maduro regime's designation as a foreign terrorist organization. He claimed that the blockade is necessary to prevent the regime from financing terrorism and other criminal activities. This announcement follows military actions against small boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
• Trump orders total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers and designates Maduro regime as foreign terrorist organization — Trump posted on social media that Venezuela is surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in South American history and ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. He claimed Venezuela stole U.S. oil, land, and other assets and demanded their immediate return. Trump designated the Maduro regime as a foreign terrorist organization, citing terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. He stated that illegal aliens and criminals sent by the Maduro regime during the Biden administration are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace.
• Trump administration expands travel ban to 39 countries — The Trump administration expanded its travel ban from 19 to 39 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and others. The expanded ban also applies to people holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents, effectively restricting Palestinian travel rights.

Supporting reports

• US military conducts lethal strikes on boats in Eastern Pacific — The US Southern Command announced that, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the US military conducted lethal strikes on three boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing a total of eight people.
• U.S. military strikes three boats in eastern Pacific, killing eight people — U.S. Southern Command announced that the military conducted strikes on three small boats in the eastern Pacific at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, killing eight people. The command claimed intelligence confirmed the vessels were engaged in narco-trafficking. This brings the total death toll from U.S. strikes to at least 95. Legal experts dispute the administration's claim of an "armed conflict" against drug cartels and say the U.S. has no legal basis for the strikes.
• Sen. Rand Paul warned against regime change wars in South America — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) warned on NBC that if the Trump administration continues toppling regimes in South America, there is "no amount of money that could be printed to pay for that" and lives should not be lost without a congressional vote. Paul's statement was made in response to Trump's warning to Colombia that it "could be next" after the administration's military escalation against Venezuela.
• Rep. Mike Turner expressed grave concern about boat strikes in Venezuela — Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) stated on ABC that there is "very grave concern in Congress" about boat strikes occurring in Venezuela. Turner noted that the individuals conducting the strikes are not being subject to criminal prosecution, and if they were, there would be no capital punishment available. Turner's statement indicates congressional concern about the legality and accountability of military operations against Venezuela.
• Sen. Jack Reed warned about consequences of violating laws of war — Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) stated on Fox that the U.S. must follow the law of war and can expect other countries to do the same. He warned that if the U.S. does not follow the law of war, it cannot expect other countries to protect American service members in distress, refrain from shooting wounded personnel in the water, or avoid leaving wounded soldiers to die. Reed's statement was made in response to the administration's military operations against Venezuela.
• Pentagon lawyers proposed sending boat strike survivors to El Salvador megaprison — The New York Times reported on December 9 that Pentagon lawyers raised the prospect of sending survivors of a mid-October boat strike in the Caribbean to El Salvador's megaprison in an effort to ensure they don't end up in the US court system, where the Trump administration could be forced to present evidence justifying their strikes in the region. The proposal represents an attempt to evade judicial accountability.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced mounting Republican criticism over a potentially illegal order to kill survivors of a Caribbean boat strike. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding an order that allegedly directed the killing of survivors from a Caribbean boat strike. The order was characterized as potentially illegal. This incident contributed to broader concerns about dysfunction within the Trump administration and raised questions about the legality and ethics of military directives under the current leadership.
• Pentagon conducts military strikes on Venezuelan vessels; at least 95 killed since September — The Pentagon conducted strikes on three boats accused of drug trafficking in the Pacific near Venezuela, killing eight people. This action is part of an escalating campaign that has included more than 20 strikes since September 2, resulting in at least 95 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to release video footage of a September 2 attack, citing national security and "longstanding Department of War policy." The administration defends the strikes as preventing drugs from reaching U.S. shores, though Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles confirmed in a Vanity Fair interview that the campaign aims to oust Maduro.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat — On Truth Social, Trump announced that on his orders, the US military conducted a strike on an alleged drug boat from Venezuela, killing three people whom he called "terrorists." The operation was not authorized by Congress and Trump said it took place in international waters. Trump warned that "IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!"
• Trump announced lethal strike on Venezuelan vessel without public evidence — Trump announced on social media that he ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a designated terrorist organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area. Trump claimed three men, whom he called "narcoterrorists," were killed and said the military showed him proof the men were smuggling drugs, but he has not shared that evidence with lawmakers or the public.