Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Friday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” that military strikes against Mexican cartels remain a possibility under the Trump administration’s efforts to combat cartel violence and drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.
During the interview, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade questioned whether the Department of Defense is currently authorized to launch military operations against cartels in Mexico if they continue to attack Border Patrol agents and facilitate the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
“If we find that they continue to fire at Border Control and they continue to put fentanyl into our country, as a secretary of defense, are you permitted now to go after them in Mexico or where they are?” Kilmeade asked.
Hegseth responded, emphasizing that while the ultimate decision lies with President Donald Trump, all options remain on the table.
“Brian, I don’t want to get ahead of the president and I won’t. That’s ultimately going to be his decision,” Hegseth said. “But let me be clear. All options will be on the table if we’re dealing with what are designated to be foreign terrorist organizations who are specifically targeting Americans on our border.”
Escalating Security Efforts at the Border
Hegseth’s comments come amid an aggressive push by the Trump administration to strengthen border security and combat cartel influence, particularly following recent cartel attacks on Border Patrol agents.
“We’re finally securing our border. We’ve been securing other people’s borders for a very long time,” Hegseth continued. “The military is orienting, shifting toward an understanding of homeland defense on our sovereign territorial border. That is something we will do and do robustly. So we’re already doing it.”
Potential for Direct Military Action Against Cartels
While the administration has not yet taken direct military action inside Mexican territory, the Defense Secretary confirmed that additional steps could be taken if necessary.
“Should there be other options necessary to prevent the cartels from continuing to pour people, gangs, drugs, and violence into our country — we will take that on,” Hegseth stated. “So the president will make that call. I’ll work with him in that decision-making process. Ultimately, we will hold nothing back to secure the American people.”
The Trump administration has already designated key cartel organizations as foreign terrorist groups, opening legal avenues for a more aggressive response, including military force.
President Trump has also signed executive orders expanding border security efforts and deploying military assets to assist in border enforcement.
The Biden administration had largely relied on diplomatic engagement with Mexico to address cartel activity, but the Trump administration appears poised to take stronger action.
Hegseth’s comments signal that the administration is prepared to escalate enforcement if cartel operations continue to pose a direct threat to U.S. national security.
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