Lindsey Graham Suggests Drug Boat Strikes Will Be In Vain If Trump Allows Socialist Dictator To Stay

The Trump administration’s strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels will be a failure if they do not ultimately result in toppling socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested to reporters Tuesday.

President Donald Trump has kept objectives in Venezuela unclear for months as the administration rapidly builds up forces in the Caribbean. Graham is urging the Trump administration to clarify its end game regarding Venezuela, which he argued must result in regime change.

“We’ve got 15% of the Navy pointed at this guy. If he’s still standing when this is over, this is a fatal, major mistake to our standing in the world,” Graham said Tuesday following a closed-door security briefing with Department of War (DOW) Secretary Pete Hegseth and top cabinet officials regarding the drug boat strikes.

“Every indication by President Trump is that the purpose of this operation is to shut down the Maduro regime and replace it with something less threatening to the United States,” Graham continued.

Graham’s comments come as Trump designated fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction Monday, which some observers saw as the administration escalating its pressure campaign against Maduro. The military has also continued its drug boat strike campaign, which has killed at least 95 alleged drug traffickers since they began in September.

Graham said he asked top Trump administration officials about their objective regarding Venezuela in the Senate-wide briefing.

“They say that this is counter drugs. It’d be nice if he left. That’s not a good answer,” Graham told reporters. “You cannot allow this man to be standing after this display of force, and I did not get a very good answer as to what happens next.”

Trump has referred