Vice President JD Vance clashed on social media with anti-Trump activist Brian Krassenstein after a U.S. military strike killed 11 suspected cartel traffickers. When Krassenstein accused the administration of committing war crimes, Vance responded bluntly, saying, “I don’t give a s— what you call it.” The exchange highlights the Trump administration’s hardline approach to cartel violence and the sharp partisan divide over military force.
The controversy began after Vance praised the strike against a Venezuelan vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization tied to drug smuggling and violent crime. “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” Vance posted. His comment drew backlash from Krassenstein, who claimed the strike amounted to the murder of civilians without trial.
Krassenstein escalated the dispute by suggesting impeachment proceedings should be considered. Vance dismissed the criticism outright, reinforcing the administration’s position that cartels are a direct threat to American lives and national security. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the operation on Fox & Friends, calling cartel operatives “narco-terrorists” and affirming the strike as both legal and necessary.
The incident underscores President Trump’s campaign promise to confront cartels with military force if necessary. By treating cartel groups as national security threats rather than mere criminal enterprises, the administration signals a willingness to use decisive action beyond domestic law enforcement.
Vance’s blunt response signals a broader message: the administration views cartel violence as warfare, not crime, and intends to meet it with the full force of U.S. power.
