By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-trump-says-boat-near-venezuela-targeted-by-u-s-had-massive-amounts-of-drugs Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump says boat near Venezuela targeted by U.S. ‘had massive amounts of drugs’ World Sep 3, 2025 2:55 PM EDT President Donald Trump on Wednesday justified a lethal U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel. Watch the clip in the video player above. The president pushed back when asked why the U.S. carried out a lethal strike on a Venezuelan drug-carrying vessel on Tuesday instead of interdicting it and capturing the alleged smugglers. WATCH: U.S. military strikes Venezuelan drug boat in Caribbean, killing 11 Trump said the strike would lead to drug smugglers thinking twice about trying to move drugs into the United States. “There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and, everybody fully understands that,” Trump said. He added, “Obviously, they won’t be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won’t be doing it again. When they watch that tape, they’re going to say, ‘Let’s not do this.’” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
President Donald Trump on Wednesday justified a lethal U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel. Watch the clip in the video player above. The president pushed back when asked why the U.S. carried out a lethal strike on a Venezuelan drug-carrying vessel on Tuesday instead of interdicting it and capturing the alleged smugglers. WATCH: U.S. military strikes Venezuelan drug boat in Caribbean, killing 11 Trump said the strike would lead to drug smugglers thinking twice about trying to move drugs into the United States. “There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and, everybody fully understands that,” Trump said. He added, “Obviously, they won’t be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won’t be doing it again. When they watch that tape, they’re going to say, ‘Let’s not do this.’” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now