America is under attack, but not in the way many people might think. It’s not a foreign army or a terrorist group crossing our borders with tanks or planes. The real threat right now is coming from drug cartels. These criminal organizations are smuggling deadly drugs into our country every day. And according to Navy Secretary John Phelan, it’s time to treat this like the war it is.
Secretary Phelan spoke about this on a recent episode of “My View with Lara Trump.” He didn’t hold back. He said flat out that drugs are killing more Americans than any war in our history. That’s a serious statement—and one that should wake people up. The President has called this an attack on our country, and he’s right. When thousands of Americans are dying from fentanyl and other drugs, that’s not just a crime problem. That’s a national security crisis.
To fight back, the U.S. military has launched something called Operation Southern Spear. This is not just some small-time patrol. This is a major military operation. We’re talking about the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group—one of the most powerful naval forces in the world. This group includes nine air wings, over 70 aircraft, and 11 ships. It’s also backed by the Marines, the Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security. That’s a serious show of force, and it’s being used to stop the flow of drugs before they reach our shores.
Some people think using a full carrier group is too much. But they’re missing the point. The military’s job is to defend the homeland, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Drug cartels are well-armed, well-funded, and ruthless. They use submarines, speedboats, and even drones to move their product. If we don’t bring our best to this fight, we lose.
Alongside this operation, there’s a bigger plan in motion. The military is modernizing fast. We’re talking about new technology—things like artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, and unmanned systems. But it’s not just about fancy gear. It’s also about getting back to basics: building ships and rebuilding our manufacturing base. For too long, this country sent jobs and factories overseas. That’s changing now. President Trump has made it clear—America needs to build again.
That’s why new shipyards are opening up, and current ones are expanding. The plan is to hire over 50,000 new workers in the shipbuilding industry. That’s how you build strength—not just in our Navy, but in our economy. We need skilled workers, strong factories, and steady leadership to keep our military the best in the world.
There’s also a bigger picture to all this. China is growing its navy fast. In fact, they now have more ships than we do. But as Secretary Phelan pointed out, we still outmatch them in tonnage and capability. That means our ships are bigger, better, and more powerful. But we can’t afford to fall behind. That’s why this push for shipbuilding and modernization is so important.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple: protect the American people. As Phelan said, the vision is to have “zero caskets with an American flag on it.” That’s not just talk. That’s what deterrence is all about. You show strength so that no one dares to challenge you.
Operation Southern Spear is more than a mission—it’s a message. America will not sit back while our people die from drugs. We will defend this homeland with everything we’ve got. And with leadership that puts the military and the American worker first, we’re on the right path. The Navy and Marine Corps are ready. And so are we.
