Washington, D.C. – Senator Cory Booker sharply criticized President Donald Trump after the president ordered the destruction of another high-speed vessel carrying barrels of suspected narcotics toward the United States.
Booker condemned the move as an “unconstitutional use of military force.”
He accused Trump of “breaking laws” and “expanding presidential authority in an authoritarian way.”
Key Points
- President Trump authorized a strike on a speedboat allegedly smuggling drugs toward U.S. waters.
- Senator Cory Booker said the action violated rules governing the use of military force.
- Booker warned that Trump’s actions represent a dangerous expansion of executive power.
Booker questions legality of strike
In an interview previously, Booker said the president’s unilateral decision to destroy the million-dollar vessel lacked legal justification. “No, he doesn’t have that authority,” Booker said. “It is a massive expansion of presidential power against the rules that govern military action.”
According to Booker, the administration has cited the post-9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as a possible basis for the strike, a claim he called “outrageous.” He argued that the decades-old authorization was never intended to cover narcotics interdiction operations.
Concerns over unchecked executive power
Booker urged Congress to reassert its constitutional authority over military decisions, warning that the president’s actions risk setting a precedent for unchecked executive power. “The rule of law matters,” he said. “Our system requires that a president work within those bounds and not act unilaterally.”
Defense officials confirmed that the speedboat was destroyed in international waters after refusing to comply with U.S. Coast Guard warnings. The boat reportedly carried multiple barrels believed to contain narcotics, though no immediate confirmation of the cargo has been released.
Administration defends the operation
White House sources defended the strike, calling it a “necessary act of national defense.” Officials argued that the operation prevented large quantities of illicit drugs from entering U.S. territory and emphasized that it was carried out in coordination with maritime authorities.
The Department of Defense has not disclosed whether any individuals were onboard at the time of the strike. Congressional leaders from both parties have requested a full briefing on the legal and operational basis for the attack.