A Senate resolution that would have forced President Donald Trump to halt his military strikes against drug cartel targets in the Caribbean failed Wednesday, thanks in part to a high-profile defection from within the Democratic Party.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke ranks with his Democrat colleagues and joined most Republicans to block the War Powers resolution, which failed in a 51–48 vote. The measure, led by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), sought to limit Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against non-state drug-trafficking groups without prior congressional approval.
Fetterman’s vote effectively handed the Trump administration the green light to continue its targeted operations against drug cartels, which the White House has formally labeled as “foreign terrorist organizations.” Republican Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) crossed the aisle to support the Democrat-backed resolution, but it wasn’t enough to shift the balance.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has authorized at least four precision strikes on suspected cartel-linked vessels operating near Venezuela. These missions, according to the White House, fall under the legal framework of a “non-international armed conflict” against terrorist entities, not traditional criminal enforcement.
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the administration declared in a memo to Congress earlier this month.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the president’s actions: “The President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores. He is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.”
Supporters of the airstrikes say they are overdue and necessary. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called the cartels “narco-terrorists” and praised Trump’s boldness: “He’s doing what needs to be done to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into our communities.” Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) said the strikes were “fully compliant and fully justified.”
Senator Paul, however, voiced concern about the potential for mission creep and the lack of transparency: “Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them? Death is generally not the penalty for drug smuggling.”
Fetterman’s decision to side with the Trump administration drew attention, as he’s increasingly carved out a more independent posture, including past breaks with his party on Israel policy and border security.
With his key vote, the Trump administration retains the authority to continue its campaign against cartel-affiliated targets without new congressional constraints—solidifying a major national security victory for the president as he sharpens his focus on fentanyl trafficking and border security ahead of 2026.
The post Fetterman Breaks With Democrats as Senate Blocks Effort to Halt Trump’s Caribbean Cartel Strikes appeared first on Real News Now.
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