The Trump administration has issued directives for the U.S. military to develop plans for lethal operations targeting Mexican drug cartels, according to investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein’s reporting.

These plans, initiated in late spring 2025, involve Northern Command (NORTHCOM) preparing strike options by mid-September.

Military sources indicate the focus is on transnational criminal organizations, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

President Trump designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations early in his term, enabling broader national security responses.

The State Department formally labeled groups like Cartel de Sinaloa and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in February 2025.

This classification aligns with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s view that cartels should be treated as armed terrorist entities rather than mere drug traffickers.

U.S.-Mexico military relations remain cooperative, with ongoing joint training and intelligence sharing. However, any unilateral U.S. action inside Mexico raises sovereignty concerns for both governments.

High-level meetings, including a July 2025 session at NORTHCOM headquarters, emphasized the need for coordinated responses to shared threats.

NORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gregory M. Guillot highlighted in February 2025 congressional testimony that cartels pose a direct threat to U.S. sovereignty through drug trafficking and migration facilitation.

He noted increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts approved by the Department of Defense. Guillot also stressed closer operational compatibility between U.S. and Mexican forces than ever before.

The CIA has expanded drone reconnaissance over Mexico to identify fentanyl production sites, supporting the administration’s anti-cartel campaign.

Previous operations in Mexico involved the Joint Special Operations Command for targeted actions. Now, NORTHCOM’s Special Operations Command North is preparing target packages for potential air, drone, or ground strikes against high-value cartel assets.

Fentanyl trafficking by these cartels has contributed to a severe public health crisis in the United States. Provisional data show over 82,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12 months ending January 2025, following a dip to about 80,400 in 2024.

The intelligence community’s March 2025 threat assessment identified Western Hemisphere-based transnational criminal organizations as the most immediate danger to American security.

In April 2025 testimony, Gen. Guillot acknowledged that fentanyl-related deaths have not decreased significantly despite enhanced intelligence foundations. He requested more ISR resources and expanded authorities for advise-and-assist operations with elite Mexican units.

Mexico’s government has permitted limited U.S. special forces training, such as deployments in early 2025 for counter-cartel preparation. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Colby Jenkins described these efforts as vital to denying cartels their objectives. Despite this, full approval for U.S. military strikes remains uncertain due to political sensitivities.

The administration views cartel activities as an invasion threat, justifying preparations similar to post-9/11 counterterrorism measures. Sources indicate President Trump’s focus on results prioritizes national security outcomes over potential diplomatic challenges.

Military planning integrates coordination with the FBI, homeland security agencies, and intelligence community. Potential operations could involve direct action by special forces, akin to U.S. strikes in other regions.

The post Trump’s War on Cartels: U.S. Military Preps Lethal Strikes in Mexico appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

US District Judge Mathew Brann, an Obama appointee on Thursday said Alina Habba is “not lawfully holding the Office of US Attorney” of New Jersey.

Habba resigned as Interim US Attorney and became Acting US Attorney for New Jersey after the Trump DOJ outmaneuvered the judges.

Donald J. Trump is the 47th President.

Pam Bondi is the Attorney General.

And I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics.

This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in.

— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) July 24, 2025

The Pennsylvania-based federal judge oversaw a challenge to Alina Habba’s authority because the judges in New Jersey had a conflict of interest after they ousted her from her position as interim US Attorney last month.

Last month it was reported that US Attorney General Pam Bondi promptly removed Alina Habba’s replacement after a group of district court judges voted to oust Habba as interim US Attorney of New Jersey.

A group of federal judges last month declined to extend Alina Habba’s term as interim US Attorney of New Jersey after Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries launched a pressure campaign to oust her.

Alina Habba’s term as interim US Attorney was set to expire after 120 days.

However, after a pressure campaign from Jeffries, district court judges voted to oust Alina Habba as interim US Attorney of New Jersey and replaced her with Desiree Leigh Grace.

In a 77-page ruling, Judge Brann said Habba is not lawfully serving as US Attorney.

“Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not,” the judge wrote.

Politico reported:

A federal judge rejected President Donald Trump’s use of a loophole to keep Alina Habba in place as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.

In a 77-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann said Thursday that Habba “is not lawfully holding the office of United States Attorney” and has been in the position without legal authority since July 1.

As a result, Habba, who had previously worked as Trump’s personal attorney, cannot participate in prosecutions by the office “as the ‘acting U.S. Attorney’” and seemingly cannot run the office the president maneuvered to keep her in charge of after her interim 120-day appointment expired. The Trump administration employed a series of maneuvers to attempt to retain Habba’s control of the office after district judges ousted her at the end of her term.

BREAKING…

The post BREAKING: Obama Judge Says Alina Habba is “Not Lawfully Holding the Office of United States Attorney” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The Trump Administration’s concerted mass deportation efforts are about to kick into another gear.

As the Associated Press reported, the State Department revealed that they were putting ALL 55 million foreigners with visas on notice that they could be deported for violations of immigration rules.

More from the AP:

In a written answer to a question posed by The Associated Press, the department said that all U.S. visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting” with an eye toward any indication that they could be ineligible for the document.

Should such information be found, the visa will be revoked and, if the visa holder is in the United States, he or she would be subject to deportation.

The department said it was looking for indicators of ineligibility including visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization.

“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance, indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department said.

The AP further notes that all the foreign visa holders’ social media accounts will be examined, along with law enforcement and immigration records in their native countries, and any actionable violations of American law committed while they were in the country.

“As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to protect U.S. national security and public safety, since Inauguration Day the State Department has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year,” the department explained.

As The Gateway Pundit has extensively reported, The Trump Administration has made illegal immigration one of its top priorities following the Biden regime’s willful neglect of immigration law, which resulted in the worst invasion in American history.

Thanks to Trump’s efforts, the border is more secure than it has ever been in U.S. history. Moreover, America is on track for the first migration decline since the 1960s.

So far, the foreign population in America has fallen by a whopping 1.6 million.

And the rope is tightening even further on the invaders. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security deported more than 1,400 illegal aliens every day for the past two weeks, setting a new pace for the promise of mass deportations that won President Donald Trump a second term.

The post Trump Administration Reviewing ALL 55 Million Foreigners with US Visas for Possible Deportable Violations appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

As reported earlier, in a huge blow to Letitia James and Biden’s prosecutors, a New York Appeals Court threw out the massive civil fraud penalty against President Trump on Thursday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James lashed out after a New York Appeals Court threw out the $515 million judgement against Trump.

James said she is going to appeal the decision so she can continue to go after Trump.

“The First Department today affirmed the well-supported finding of the trial court: Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud,” Letitia James said.

“The court upheld the injunctive relief we won, limiting Donald Trump and the Trump Organization officers’ ability to do business in New York. It should not be lost to history: yet another court has ruled that the president violated the law, and that our case has merit,” she wrote.

“We will seek appeal to the Court of Appeals and continue to protect the rights and interest of New Yorkers,” James said.

My statement on the opinion affirming Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud: pic.twitter.com/7OdOVsCWlf

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) August 21, 2025

New York Attorney General Letitia James sought $370 million in ‘damages’ when there is no victim in this fraud case and she also sought to ban Trump and his sons from operating any businesses in New York. She accused Trump of inflating his assets and defrauding lenders and insurance companies.

Last year Judge Engoron ordered Trump to pay more than a $355 million fine and barred Trump “from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York for a period of three years.”

Engoron claimed Trump and each of the defendants “participated in aiding and abetting the conspiracy to commit insurance fraud by their individual acts in falsifying business records and valuations, causing materially fraudulent SFCs to be intentionally submitted to insurance companies.”

Letitia James even took the initial step to seize President Trump’s assets after he was unable to secure a bond or pay the outrageous judgement.

The post Letitia James Lashes Out After NYC Appeals Court Drops $515+ Million Judgement in Civil Fraud Case – Goes After Trump AGAIN, Appeals Decision! appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A D.C. Police Officer sent a woke leftist off a wall during yesterday’s protest in DC by pulling an old trick out of the left’s bag.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller visited National Guard troops and police officers at Union Station to observe the clean-up progress and to thank them for their incredible work.

However, upon arrival, they received a rude welcome from some agitators. They heckled Hegseth, Vance, and Miller as they entered Union Station and screamed obscenities at the National Guard troops.

A humorous moment did break out thanks to a D.C police officer who decided to give the left a taste of their own medicine. While facing off against a pro-Hamas, anti-Trump protester wearing a keffiyeh, he sent her off with just one provocative question: Isn’t wearing that (keffiyeh) cultural appropriation?

“Appropriation?” she shouts. “(I’m committing) appropriation by wearing a scarf?!”

“Yes, you are,” the officer responds.

“I’m trying to stop a genocide, and you think that’s appropriating a culture?!” she fires back. “How is that appropriating Palestinian culture?”

WATCH:

Protester argues with BASED police officer who asked if wearing a keffiyah is cultural appropriation:

She says she is “wearing a scarf that is trying to stop a genocide.” @DailySignal pic.twitter.com/pw4c4nD7as

— Elise McCue (@EliseMcCue) August 20, 2025

“How is my wearing a keffiyeh appropriating Palestinian culture?! You’re the one who said it, you’re the one who said it, you’re the one who said I was appropriating Palestinian culture by wearing a keffiyeh scarf!” she whines.

The officer responds by calmly saying that she is not Palestinian, which drives her crazy once more.

“I support Palestinians, so I am appreciating Palestinians!” she shouts. “How is wearing a scarf, given to me, in fact, by my Palestinian friend, because I stand in solidarity against the genocide?!”

The post WATCH: D.C. Police Officer Causes Leftist Agitator to Flip Out After Asking Her a Provocative Question During Protest at D.C’s Union Station appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.