Vice President JD Vance sparked a heated debate on social media after defending a deadly U.S. military strike against an alleged Venezuelan drug boat that killed 11 people.
The strike, which took place on September 2 in the Caribbean Sea, targeted what the Trump administration claims was a vessel operated by the Tren de Aragua gang carrying illegal drugs toward the United States. Vance has faced criticism before for his controversial statements on foreign policy issues.
The controversy began when Vance posted on X that “killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.” His comments were in response to criticism from some who called the military action illegal under international law.
When an activist Brian Krassenstein replied to Vance’s post, writing that “killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime,” the vice president responded bluntly: I don’t give a s–t what you call it. The exchange quickly went viral and drew sharp criticism from both sides of the political divide.
Rand Paul slams Vance’s response as ‘despicable’
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky became one of the most vocal Republican critics of Vance’s comments. The libertarian-minded senator wrote on X that Vance’s sentiment was “despicable and thoughtless” and questioned whether the vice president had considered the importance of due process. “Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation?” Paul asked.
Killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) September 6, 2025
Paul’s criticism highlights a growing divide within the Republican Party over foreign military intervention and the use of force. The Kentucky senator has long been skeptical of overseas military actions and has previously clashed with other Republicans over similar issues. His response to Vance represents one of the most public disagreements between prominent Trump administration figures and Republican lawmakers.
The Trump administration announced that the strike killed 11 suspected members of Tren de Aragua, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. President Trump described the operation as targeting “narcoterrorists” who were transporting drugs in international waters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action was part of an ongoing “counter-drug mission” and that similar operations would continue.
The administration has made combating drug cartels a central part of its policy agenda, particularly focusing on groups like Tren de Aragua that have expanded their operations across Latin America and into the United States.
