WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., condemned U.S. strikes on alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean, saying in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the strikes “go against all of our tradition.”
Paul argued that when the U.S. kills someone, “you really need to know someone’s name, at least, you have to accuse them of something.”
“You have to present evidence,” Paul said. “So all these people have been blown up without us knowing their name, without any evidence of a crime.”
Paul’s criticism comes as the U.S. has targeted at least five boats that the administration says it believes are connected to Venezuelan drug cartels. NBC News has reported that lawmakers have been growing increasingly concerned about a lack of information about the intelligence and strategy behind the Trump administration’s decision to strike the boats.
“If our policy now is to blow up every ship we suspect or accuse of drug running, that would be a bizarre world in which 25% of the people might be innocent,” Paul argued.
He noted that the boats targeted by the U.S. were “2,000 miles away from us,” saying that if the boats were transporting drugs, they were “probably” bringing the drugs to an island near Venezuela.
“The idea they’re coming here is like, it’s a huge assumption,” he said. “You have to present some proof. It is the difference between war and peace. In war, though, you don’t ask people’s name.”
Paul has continued to emphasize his strong support for President Donald Trump, while also sometimes voicing disagreement with the administration on issues such as military actions and tariffs.
He has previously spoken out strongly against the strikes targeting alleged drug boats, directly responding on X to Vice President JD Vance, who wrote in September that “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.”
Paul called the comments “despicable.”
“Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation??” Paul wrote in a post. “What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial.”
In his Sunday interview on “Meet the Press,” Paul said that if the U.S. does want to go to war with Venezuela, then Congress should vote on a declaration of war.
“The president shouldn’t do this by himself,” Paul said.
Last week, Paul joined forces with Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Adam Schiff of California to introduce a resolution to block the U.S. military “from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.”
“I think we’re going to get more Republicans on board with the notion that the President should not go to war without a vote of Congress,” Kaine said in an interview on “Meet the Press.” “This is the most sacred responsibility that Congress has.”
“The Constitution says war is a matter for Congress to declare, not for the president to initiate unilaterally,” he continued.
Kaine and Schiff previously put forward a resolution aimed at preventing the U.S. military from continuing strikes in the Caribbean without congressional approval. The measure failed in a 48-51 vote. Paul and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska crossed the aisle to vote for the resolution, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted with Republicans.
