Trump tells Congress that the U.S. is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels

By Ryan Lucas,

Leila Fadel

Published October 3, 2025 at 4:53 AM EDT

President Trump says the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with unspecified drug cartels. That's according to a document sent to Congress about the military strikes on suspected drug boats.

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NPR

Ryan Lucas

Ryan Lucas covers the Justice Department for NPR.

See stories by Ryan Lucas

Leila Fadel

Leila Fadel is a national correspondent for NPR based in Los Angeles, covering issues of culture, diversity, and race.

See stories by Leila Fadel

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