On September 4, President Donald Trump provided his first legal justification for the September 2 strike against the alleged narco-trafficking boat. In a letter to Congress submitted in accordance with the Congressional notification requirement of the 1974 War Powers Act, Trump invoked his authority under Article 2 of the Constitution. “In the face of the inability or unwillingness of some states in the region to address the continuing threat to United States persons and interests emanating from their territories, we have now reached a critical point where we must meet this threat to our citizens and our most vital national interests with United States military force in self-defense,” Trump wrote. “Accordingly, at my direction, on September 2, 2025, United States forces struck a vessel at a location beyond the territorial seas of any nation that was assessed to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and to be engaged in illicit drug trafficking activities….
“I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations,” he concluded.
On September 5, Reuters reported that the U.S. is deploying ten F-35 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico, though it provided no details as to where they’re coming from or when they’ll arrive.
Then last night, CBS News, citing unnamed Pentagon officials, reported that Venezuelan fighter jets overflew the guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham on September 4, Thursday night for the second time. “I would say they’re going to be in trouble,” Trump had told reporters at the White House on September 5 in response to a question of what could happen if Venezuela were to fly jets over U.S. Navy vessels again. “If they fly in a dangerous position, I would say that … you or your captains can make the decision as to what they want to do,” Trump said, addressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
