HOLY SMOKES: President Trump Announces U.S. Land Strikes on…

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin land strikes against Mexican drug cartels, marking a dramatic escalation in the administration’s fight against narcoterrorism.

The announcement comes just days after the successful capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, underscoring Trump’s aggressive foreign policy posture in his second term.

Speaking Thursday night, Trump said the cartels have effectively taken control of Mexico and pose a direct threat to American lives.

“We are gonna start now hitting land with regard to the cartels,” Trump said.

“The cartels are running Mexico. It’s very sad to watch and see what’s happened to that country.”

Trump framed the military action as necessary to stop fentanyl trafficking and mass casualties linked to cartel operations.

He has repeatedly accused Central American drug traffickers of killing between 250,000 and 300,000 Americans each year.

“It’s horrible. It’s devastated families. You lose a child or a parent,” Trump said, adding, “We’ve done a really good job. We’re knocking it down.”

The president also boasted of the scope of his authority when asked what limits exist on U.S. military power in the region.

“My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me,” Trump said.

In a separate interview earlier this week, Trump dismissed concerns about international legal constraints.

“I don’t need international law,” he said, later adding that he is “not looking to hurt people.”

Trump has suggested that additional countries, including Greenland, Cuba, and Colombia, could be next targets of U.S. operations, triggering backlash from foreign leaders.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those expressing alarm over Trump’s remarks.

During one interview, Trump interrupted the discussion to take a phone call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Petro reportedly warned he would “take up arms” if the United States moved against Colombia.

Trump has warned Mexico repeatedly to “get their act together,” saying he would prefer Mexico handle the cartels but doubts its ability to do so.

“They’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico,” Trump said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that U.S. military intervention has been raised multiple times in conversations with Trump.

Sheinbaum has consistently rejected the idea, calling it a nonstarter while insisting her relationship with Trump remains respectful.

Analysts say Trump’s threats are consistent with his negotiation style as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement comes up for revision this year.

Following Maduro’s capture, Trump also leveraged the Venezuelan regime into an oil deal granting the U.S. between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil.

Trump said the oil, worth up to two billion dollars, will be sold at market price with proceeds controlled by the United States.

“That money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States,” he said.