WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct 22, 2025 – In a fiery defense of the Trump administration’s aggressive campaign against maritime drug trafficking, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt message during a White House briefing: the exploding vessels spotted in viral videos are a direct consequence of cartels’ refusal to halt shipments to American shores. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Rubio dismissed international hand-wringing over the strikes, insisting that the interdictions in international waters are lawful and essential to curbing the fentanyl crisis ravaging U.S. communities.
“Bottom line, these are drug boats,” Rubio stated in the clip, which quickly went viral on X late Wednesday. “If people want to stop seeing drug boats blow up, stop sending drugs to the United States.” The 42-second video, shared by conservative news aggregator @ThePatriotOasis, captures Rubio seated near Trump, addressing pointed questions about the legality of the operations amid reports of at least two survivors from a recent submarine takedown. The footage, timestamped from a broader Oval Office discussion, underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance stance as it ramps up unilateral actions in the Caribbean and Pacific.
The strikes, now numbering at least eight since mid-September, mark a dramatic escalation in Trump’s “war on drug boats,” targeting suspected Venezuelan and Colombian vessels laden with narcotics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the latest Pacific Ocean hit just hours before Rubio’s remarks, describing it as a precision operation against a “narco-submersible” that could have flooded U.S. streets with deadly fentanyl. At least 32 people have been killed across the incidents, with critics decrying the lack of public evidence and potential violations of international law.
Rubio pushed back on concerns about sovereignty, noting all actions occurred in international waters against boats “headed towards [the U.S.] with hostilities in mind—which includes flooding our country with dangerous, deadly drugs.” “We know what these boats are,” Rubio added, warning operators: “If you’re running drugs, you’re in grave danger.” The administration has vowed to release more details on the latest strike, amid calls from allies like Colombia’s U.S. ambassador for transparency and de-escalation.
The Oval Office exchange, leaked via social media, highlights Trump’s hands-on role in the policy. The president, who has long railed against “poisoning” from south of the border, nodded approvingly as Rubio fielded queries on everything from survivor protocols to the risk of broader retaliation from Caracas or Bogotá. Analysts see the moves as a fulfillment of Trump’s campaign pledges for militarized border security, but they risk straining ties with Latin American partners already wary of unilateral U.S. force. “Blowing up rather than interdicting boats might also be counterproductive,” warned one Atlantic analysis, pointing to potential boomerang effects on regional stability.
As overdose deaths topped 110,000 last year, the administration frames these high-seas explosions as a necessary deterrent. Yet with Congress eyeing oversight and Venezuela labeling the strikes “acts of war,” Rubio’s “it’s that simple” retort may fuel the fire rather than douse it. For now, the message from Foggy Bottom is clear: the boats will keep sinking until the drugs stop flowing.
