Washington, D.C. – U.S. Vice President JD Vance staunchly defended a recent American military strike that sank a Venezuelan vessel, killing 11 suspected drug traffickers, dismissing accusations of war crimes in a heated social media exchange. The operation, announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, targeted a boat allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in the Caribbean Sea.
On Saturday, Vance took to X, asserting, “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.” His comments came in response to critic Brian Krassenstein, who labeled the strike a war crime, arguing that killing civilians without due process violates international law. Vance retorted sharply, “I don’t give a s*** what you call it,” in a post that quickly garnered over 1.3 million views, according to The Daily Wire.
The strike, conducted on September 2, has sparked controversy over its legality. Critics, including Democratic Senator Mark Kelly and former Biden administration official Juan S. Gonzalez, questioned the operation’s compliance with U.S. and international law, citing the lack of due process for those killed. The Trump administration has provided limited details about the individuals on board or the drugs allegedly being transported.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking on Fox News, defended the action, stating, “We’ve got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships,” signaling that such operations will continue. He emphasized the strike’s aim to protect American interests by targeting “narco-terrorists.” Venezuelan officials, however, have dismissed a video of the strike released by the White House as fabricated.
Vance further escalated his rhetoric, mocking critics by posting, “Democrats: let’s send your kids to die in Russia. Republicans: actually, let’s protect our people from the scum of the earth.” The debate intensified as GOP Senator Rand Paul criticized Vance’s stance, referencing To Kill a Mockingbird to highlight the dangers of extrajudicial killings.
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