Name: Trump designates fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction
Uploaded: 2025-12-16T15:38:15.766Z
Duration: 1 min 12 s
Description: President Donald Trump designated fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction as eight people were killed in the new U.S. strike on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the total death toll to at least 95 since September.

President Donald Trump designated fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction as eight people were killed in the new U.S. strike on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the total death toll to at least 95 since September.

Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, expanding the definition beyond traditional nuclear, biological, chemical, or kinetic threats. Trump cited high annual death tolls attributed to fentanyl and described it as a direct military threat to the United States.

The announcement coincided with U.S. military strikes on three boats in the Pacific Ocean accused of drug trafficking, resulting in eight deaths. The Trump administration's actions have drawn increased scrutiny from lawmakers, who have raised concerns about the legality and oversight of the campaign.

Trump designates fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. The term weapon of mass destruction has typically referred to nuclear, biological, chemical or kinetic threats that are capable of inflicting widespread and lasting damage to a population, infrastructure or environment. If this were a war, that would be one of the worst wars I believe they killed over the last five or six years, per year, 200,000 to 300,000 people. These are a direct military threat to the United States of America. They're trying to drug out our country. The decision comes as the U.S. military said it attacked three boats accused of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, killing eight people. According to the military, the strikes targeted designated terrorist organizations. Trump also justified the attacks, saying it was necessary to curb the flow of drugs into the United States. The Trump administration has come under increased pressure from lawmakers who have questioned the campaign's legality and oversight.

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