Rand Paul, KY Republican senator, questions legality of Trump’s strikes on alleged drug traffickers

Sen. Rand Paul on Sunday criticized President Trump’s recent military actions against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean, arguing that the president lacks the legal authority to conduct such strikes without congressional approval.

“They go against all of our tradition,” Mr. Paul, Kentucky Republican, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “When you kill someone, you should know, if you’re not at war, not in a declared war, you really need to know someone’s name at least.”

Mr. Paul emphasized the absence of due process. “You have to accuse them of something. You have to present evidence. So all of these people have been blown up without us knowing their name, without any evidence of a crime,” he said.

The Trump administration has carried out more than half a dozen strikes on boats in international waters, resulting in more than 20 fatalities. Officials have defended the actions, saying that drug cartels pose an imminent threat to American lives and that the president has the authority to employ lethal force.

However, lawmakers have been frustrated by the lack of evidence the administration has shared to justify the attacks. Some have questioned the constitutionality of the strikes, warning that, at the very least, they represent a break with traditional norms.

Asked whether the strikes are legal, Mr. Paul answered, “No.”

“It is the difference between war and peace,” he said. “In war, you don’t ask people’s names. But if they want all-out war where we kill anybody and everybody that is in the country of Venezuela or coming out, that has to have a declaration of war.”