U.S. President-elect Donald Trump gestures at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Cheney Orr
Trump Proposes Anti-Drug Campaign and Renewed Crackdown on Mexican Cartels
President-elect Donald Trump announced plans on Sunday to launch a new anti-drug advertising campaign and reiterated his pledge to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. The announcements, made during a conservative conference in Phoenix, Arizona, reflect Trump’s commitment to addressing the U.S. opioid crisis, particularly the impact of fentanyl.
Anti-Drug Advertising Campaign
Trump outlined a plan to combat drug abuse through a large-scale advertising campaign aimed at highlighting the physical consequences of drug use. “We’re going to advertise how bad drugs are for you. They ruin your look, they ruin your face, they ruin your skin, they ruin your teeth,” Trump said, likening the effort to a political campaign.
While details were sparse, Trump indicated that his administration would allocate substantial resources to the initiative, though he characterized the costs as “a very small amount of money, relatively.” His remarks drew comparisons to the “Just Say No” campaign spearheaded by former First Lady Nancy Reagan in the 1980s, which encouraged young Americans to avoid drug use.
The Trump transition team declined to provide further specifics about the proposed program.
Renewed Focus on the Fentanyl Crisis
The fentanyl epidemic was a prominent theme in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Synthetic opioid overdoses are projected to claim between 50,000 and 60,000 American lives this year, with fentanyl and related drugs accounting for most deaths.
Although Trump has consistently highlighted the crisis, opioid-related deaths more than doubled during his first term (2017–2021), underscoring the complexity of addressing the epidemic.
Designating Mexican Cartels as Terrorist Organizations
Trump also renewed his vow to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), a campaign promise he initially made in 2019 but later shelved. At the time, Trump deferred the plan at the request of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who prioritized U.S.-Mexico cooperation over potential U.S. intervention.
“I will immediately designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump declared on Sunday, emphasizing his intention to escalate efforts against cartel activities.
According to Trump’s official platform, his administration will direct the Pentagon to deploy “special forces, cyber warfare, and other covert and overt actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure, and operations.”
Concerns Over U.S.-Mexico Relations
Designating cartels as FTOs could have far-reaching implications for U.S.-Mexico relations. Some U.S. officials have expressed concerns that such a measure might hinder Mexico’s domestic efforts to combat drug trafficking while straining diplomatic ties.
In 2019, opposition from both U.S. and Mexican officials influenced Trump’s decision to pause the FTO designation. Mexican leaders feared that the move could invite U.S. military intervention, a prospect they firmly opposed.
Outlook
Trump’s dual-pronged approach—using advertising to deter drug use domestically and targeting cartels internationally—signals his intent to adopt aggressive measures against the opioid crisis. However, questions remain about the feasibility, effectiveness, and potential diplomatic fallout of these proposals as he prepares to assume office.
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