Fentanyl formally designated weapon of mass destruction by Trump

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President Donald Trump signed a historic govt order declaring illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemical compounds Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), warning that the drug poses a risk extra akin to a chemical weapon than a narcotic.

"Right this moment, I am taking one other step to guard Individuals from the scourge of lethal fentanyl flooding into our nation," Trump stated from the Oval Workplace on Monday. "With this historic govt order I am signing at the moment, we're formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction — as a result of that is what it's."

The order asserts that illicit fentanyl is "nearer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic," noting that as little as two milligrams — "an virtually undetectable hint quantity equal to 10 to fifteen grains of desk salt" — will be deadly. It states that lots of of hundreds of Individuals have died from fentanyl overdoses and argues that the drug’s manufacturing and distribution by organized criminal networks now represent a big national-security risk.

It describes cartel operations chargeable for supplying fentanyl to the US as fueling "lawlessness" throughout the Western Hemisphere and serving to finance assassinations, terrorist acts, and insurgencies overseas.

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The order additionally highlights that the 2 dominant cartels concerned in fentanyl trafficking "have interaction in armed battle over territory," creating widespread violence that extends far past the drug disaster itself. It additionally warns of the potential for fentanyl to be weaponized in "concentrated, large-scale terror assaults" by hostile actors — a central justification for invoking WMD authorities.

"As President of the US, my highest responsibility is the protection of the nation and its residents," the order states. "Accordingly, I hereby designate illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemical compounds as Weapons of Mass Destruction."

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US President Donald Trump indicators an govt order throughout a Mexican Border Protection medal presentation within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. Trump stated he was classifying fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction" in his newest push to ratchet up stress on Latin America over drug trafficking. (Bonnie Money/UPI/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)

The directive outlines a broad interagency technique to confront fentanyl trafficking utilizing instruments sometimes reserved for nuclear, chemical, and organic threats. It instructs the Justice Department , State Division, Treasury Division, the Division of Battle, and the Division of Homeland Safety to take "acceptable motion" to get rid of the risk posed by illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemical compounds.

Underneath Part 2, the order requires the Justice Division to right away intensify investigations and prosecutions. State and Treasury should goal traffickers with sanctions and monetary penalties, whereas the Departments of Battle and Justice will decide whether or not army sources ought to help enforcement efforts.

The Pentagon and Homeland Safety are directed to replace home chemical-incident response plans to incorporate fentanyl, and Homeland Safety should use WMD-related intelligence to establish smuggling networks and strengthen counter-fentanyl operations.

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President Donald Trump speaks throughout a invoice signing ceremony within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Trump signed laws that strengthens legal penalties for fentanyl, hailing it as a historic step towards justice in his newest effort to handle the general public well being disaster spurred by the lethal drug. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)

The order concludes with definitions of "illicit fentanyl" and "core precursor chemical compounds," and consists of customary provisions noting that implementation should adjust to current legislation, creates no new authorized rights, and can be carried out utilizing obtainable appropriations. The Justice Division will cowl the price of publication as a part of the order’s implementation.

"That is yet one more motion in President Trump’s crackdown on fentanyl — on behalf of each American who has misplaced a beloved one to this lethal poison," White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a submit on X.

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Officers say the WMD designation will allow extra aggressive investigations, deeper interagency coordination, and heightened worldwide stress on cartels and their monetary backers, marking some of the important escalations within the federal government’s approach to the fentanyl disaster.

"No bomb does what that is doing," Trump stated. "We're shedding 200,000 to 300,000 individuals yearly that we all know of. So we're formally designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction."

Stepheny Value covers crime, together with lacking individuals, homicides and migrant crime. Ship story tricks to stepheny.value@fox.com.

Stepheny Value is a Author at Fox News with a deal with West Coast and Midwest information, lacking individuals, nationwide and worldwide crime tales, murder circumstances, and border safety.