President Donald Trump posted a video on Tuesday of a United States military strike against Tren de Aragua drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea.

The strike took place in international waters and killed nearly a dozen terrorist cartel members carrying illicit drugs, Trump said. A video of the strike showed a small boat motoring through water before bursting into flame.

“Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,” he added. “The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States.”

“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” Trump concluded. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!!”

pic.twitter.com/vEVGYVgLAg

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 2, 2025

The president ordered U.S. military assets to the south Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela last month to counter drug cartels, which his administration has classified as foreign terrorist organizations. The president has ratcheted up pressure on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, who the United States has targeted as a top cartel official.

In August, the United States doubled its bounty on information leading to Maduro’s arrest from $25 million to $50 million.

“Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like TDA, Sinaloa, and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country. To date, the DEA has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates with nearly seven tons linked to Maduro himself,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“The DOJ has seized over $700 million of Maduro-linked assets, including two private jets, nine vehicles, and more,” she added. “Yet, Maduro’s reign of terror continues. He is one of the largest narco traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.”

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy got a strange look from President Donald Trump — and a chuckle from Vice President JD Vance — when he asked the president point blank about the rumors of his death that had circulated over the weekend.

During an Oval Office event on Tuesday afternoon, Doocy pressed Trump to reveal when and how he’d come to find out that he’d died over the weekend.

WATCH:

President Trump just SLAMMED his critics who wished him dead after not having a news conference for TWO DAYS!

“I didn’t do any for two days, and they said there must be something wrong with him.”

“Biden wouldn’t do ’em for MONTHS! You wouldn’t see him! And nobody ever said… pic.twitter.com/W5X7aRsuuY

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 2, 2025

“How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?” Doocy asked, prompting a quick sideways glance from the president, but no other change in his expression. Vance, standing behind Trump and to his left, was clearly amused by the question.

“Did you see that?” Doocy pressed on as Trump said he hadn’t. “People didn’t see you for a couple of days, 1.3 million user engagements as of Saturday morning about your demise.”

Vance shook his head, still smiling, and only then did Trump’s eyebrows raise: “Really? I didn’t see that. You know, I have heard — it’s sort of crazy, but last week I did numerous news conferences, all successful, they went very well like this is going very well. And then I didn’t do any for two days and they said, ‘There must be something wrong with him.'”

Trump then pivoted to compare his busy schedule to that of his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, who routinely went weeks without speaking directly to the press.

“Biden didn’t do ’em for MONTHS!” he exclaimed, prompting laughs around the room as he continued, “You wouldn’t see him! And nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him! And we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape.”