Donald Trump gave a puzzling reply while defending a military operation targeting alleged drug traffickers.
Before his second presidential term, Trump vowed to take a firm stance against drug activities and countries that facilitate the entry of drugs into the US.
Earlier this month, he announced on social media that the US had successfully conducted a military operation against alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, who were reportedly transporting drugs on a boat.
According to the President, the vessel was in international waters, carrying illegal narcotics destined for the United States.
The military action led to the deaths of 11 individuals labeled as ‘terrorists’ involved in the drug transport.
On Truth Social, Trump stated: “Earlier this morning, on my Orders, US Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.
“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump addressed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s comments on the operation, where Maduro deemed the killing of the suspects ‘illegal’.
When a reporter inquired about his response, Trump replied: “What’s illegal are the drugs that were on the boat, and the drugs that are being sent into our country, and the fact that 300 million people died last year from drugs, that’s what’s illegal.”
This number appears to be significantly off from the actual figure, especially given the estimated US population of 340 million people.
In the 12 months ending March 2025, nearly 75,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the US, a decrease from the approximately 111,000 deaths reported two years prior, according to official data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If Trump was referencing global drug-related deaths, his estimation is still quite inaccurate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in June 2024 that drug use was responsible for 600,000 deaths worldwide.
As expected, many took to social media to ridicule the president over this apparent misstatement.
California congressional hopeful Eric Garcia posted on X: “Almost the entire U.S. population died from drugs last year!!!! Someone who loves this man needs to get him the help he needs.”
Ben Meiselas, co-founder of the liberal news outlet MeidasTouch, shared the clip with the jest: “He’s wrong. It’s a billion gazillion people.”
Conservative lawyer and commentator George Conway quipped: “The great thing about Labor Day weekend when we didn’t hear from him is we had a pleasant respite from hearing him say idiotic things.”
The White House has been contacted for comment.
If you need confidential advice about drugs, you can reach out to American Addiction Centers at (313) 209-9137, available 24/7, or visit their website for assistance.