GOP Pushes to Empower Trump with Military Force Against Cartels

Congressman Greg Steube, R-Fla., has introduced a resolution aiming to authorize former President Donald Trump to use the "full force of the American military" against nine of the largest cartel organizations wreaking havoc in U.S. cities. This bold move seeks to address major criminal groups like Tren de Aragua (TdA), MS-13, and the Sinaloa Cartel by labeling their actions as a direct threat to the United States' territorial integrity and citizen safety.

One of the most notorious groups targeted by the resolution, Tren de Aragua, has been linked to heinous crimes, including the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and a violent takeover of an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. Their alleged ties to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro further raise alarm bells.

Steube's resolution is nothing short of a call to arms, stating that the targeted cartels have committed terrorism, outrages upon personal dignity, and extrajudicial executions of innocent Americans. It also highlights the devastating toll of the opioid crisis, stating that over 110,000 Americans per year have died from overdoses during the border policy struggles under President Biden. The resolution demands military intervention to dismantle these criminal enterprises.

Under the resolution, Trump would be empowered to use the military as he sees fit to eliminate the cartels and any affiliated organizations. It aligns with an earlier executive order from Trump’s administration, which declared groups like Tren de Aragua as "foreign terrorist organizations" and invoked emergency powers to combat their threat to U.S. national security.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Steube described these cartels as "organized criminal enterprises that profit off death and addiction," emphasizing the urgency of taking decisive action. He criticized Mexico's lack of effective response to cartel violence and stressed that Congress must equip Trump and his administration to "take a sledgehammer" to these networks.

While the resolution's aggressive stance might raise eyebrows, Steube’s rhetoric reflects growing frustration over the cartels' impact on American communities. His call to arms is clear: If Mexico can't handle its cartels, the U.S. military must step in to protect American lives.