President Donald Trump issued a severe warning to drug traffickers smuggling illicit substances into the United States during his address at the UN General Assembly this afternoon, September 23rd, 2025, stating, "To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned — we will blow you out of existence." Trump's remarks, delivered in New York, follow his earlier declarations designating Venezuelan drug cartels and the Aragua train as foreign terrorist organizations. The President previously asserted that U.S. actions have significantly curtailed maritime drug trafficking from Venezuela, claiming "There are no ships that dare to cross our waters with drugs." The White House has stated that each intercepted boat equates to 25,000 lives saved, citing 300,000 drug seizures in the past year. A Venezuelan delegate was present during Trump's UN General Assembly speech. Venezuela currently owes the UN $115 million in unpaid fees, resulting in the loss of its voting rights. The President's heightened rhetoric against cartels and his direct accusations linking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to these networks signal an escalation in U.S. policy concerning international drug trafficking and state-sponsored criminal activities.
