United States Engaged In “Armed Conflict,” Trump Administration Tells Congress

The Trump administration sent a memo to Congress on Thursday saying the United States is engaged “in a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.

The Trump administration has labeled the drug cartels as “terrorist organizations.”

“The President directed these actions consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct foreign relations,” the memo reads.

“Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the president determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,” it continues.

“The President directed the Department of War to conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict,” it adds.

Watch a breaking news alert below:

BREAKING: The Trump administration announces they are engaged in an “armed conflict with drug cartels,” according to Fox News.

“Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the… pic.twitter.com/c65jqceRly

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 2, 2025

Fox News has more:

The notification to congressional lawmakers came as Democrats on key committees have accused the administration of exceeding its powers to use the military against the cartels, particularly in the wake of recent strikes on what the administration said were drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.

“The cartels involved have grown more armed, well-organized, and violent,” the memo said. “They have the financial means, sophistication, and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity.”

“They illegally and directly cause the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year,” it continued. “Although friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life, these groups are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere in the form of organized cartels. Therefore, the President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.”

The memo specifically cites the Sept. 15 strike.

NewsNation White House correspondent Kellie Meyer shared the memo.

NEW: WHITE HOUSE AT WAR WITH ALLEGED DRUG CARTELS

MEMO obtained by @NewsNation @JoeKhalilTV to a select few in Congress lays out that DRUG CARTELS are now “non-state armed groups, terrorist organizations” and the President has determined the U.S. is engaged in “non-international… pic.twitter.com/LDbg8mnn2x

— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) October 2, 2025

The Independent shared further info:

At least 17 people were killed in targeted strikes on vessels in the Caribbean in recent weeks.

On September 2, Trump announced on Truth Social that military assets killed “Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists” who were “operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro,” Venezuela’s president, to smuggle drugs into the United States.

The strike killed 11 people on board, Trump said. Authorities in Venezuela have said those killed in the attack were not connected to the Tren de Aragua gang, which the Trump administration has labelled a foreign terrorist group whose members should be summarily deported from the country.

Trump announced a second strike September 15 against another vessel allegedly carrying narcotics, killing three “terrorists” on board, he said.

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