Washington: US President Donald Trump views controversial military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels as life-saving measures rather than killings, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said, according to a magazine article published Tuesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Wiles offered Vanity Fair a direct defense of the policy when asked about the administration's compassion in dealing with drug trafficking. She stated, "The president believes in harsh penalties for drug dealers, as he's said many, many times." Wiles argued that the boats were not ordinary fishing vessels but were carrying drugs, and eliminating them saves lives.
The administration, however, has not provided evidence to support claims that the targeted boats carried drugs. Critics of the policy argue that capturing and interrogating alleged drug-runners could yield more valuable information than executing them without due process. Additionally, some critics note that the small boats were often thousands of miles from US shores or headed toward Asia, suggesting any contraband was unlikely intended for the United States.
Wiles emphasized the President's stance, stating, "The president says 25,000 (lives saved). I don't know what the number is. But he views those as lives saved, not people killed."
The US has conducted at least 22 strikes in the East Pacific and Caribbean since September, resulting in at least 87 deaths. Despite these actions, Washington has not presented evidence to substantiate its drug trafficking allegations.
The article, based on over ten interviews conducted throughout the year, also highlighted Trump's strategy toward Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Wiles claimed Trump believes Maduro leads a powerful drug cartel, and the President aims to pressure Maduro into submission through continued military actions. Maduro, however, accuses Trump of seeking regime change under the guise of combating drug smuggling.
Critics also scrutinize Trump's pardon of Juan Orlando Hernandez, a former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking, as evidence of a lack of genuine commitment to stopping the drug trade. Following his release, Honduras issued an arrest warrant for Hernandez.
Trump remains firm in his demand for Maduro to step down, insisting that all options, including military force, are on the table amid a significant buildup of forces in the region.
After the article's publication, Wiles criticized it on US social media company X, describing it as "a disingenuously framed hit piece" that failed to include positive remarks about the President and his team.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended Wiles, stating, "President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie. The entire administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her."