In a popular CNN video from 2010, we see him talking to his then 4-year-old son Barron in his office. When discussing Barron’s future, the message is clear : “No drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes!”. In 2018, Trump left no room for doubt when he stated: “If we don't get tough on drug dealers, we're wasting our time [...] That toughness includes the death penalty”.
As he begins his second term as President of the United States, his commitment to a hardline approach against drug trafficking remains central to his agenda. Trump has promised to intensify the policies he implemented during his first term. His appointments and an updated strategy suggest a doubling-down of his War on Drugs, launched back in 2017. Shortly after his second inauguration, he appointed Derek Maltz, a former counternarcotics agent with decades of experience as acting Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrator.
The DEA has long been at the forefront of Washington’s efforts to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks. Over the past decade, drug smuggling into the U.S. has surged dramatically, with Mexican cartels playing a central role in trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and other opioids, contributing to a devastating rise in overdose deaths. The U.S. records about 100,000 overdose deaths per year, largely driven by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Opioids account for nearly 75% of these fatalities, while methamphetamine and cocaine remain widespread. The smuggling networks have become increasingly sophisticated, using a mix of traditional methods and modern technology to bypass U.S. law enforcement.
During his first term in office, Trump particularly targeted these Mexican cartels, which supply much of the fentanyl that floods U.S. communities. With Maltz at the helm, the DEA is expected to intensify operations along the U.S.-Mexico border and focus on dismantling the cartels’ supply chains —in a muscular fashion should the situation demand it.
