According to his statements, over 200,000 people would have died in the last year due to illicit substances, a figure he described as "higher than publicly admitted."
Trump claimed that the numbers "are decreasing" thanks to U.S. attacks on drug trafficking groups and announced that his administration plans to expand operations to actions on solid ground, arguing that "land is much easier" and that they have information on routes and locations of those responsible.
The former president also attributed the increase in drug trafficking and violence to the arrival of uncontrolled immigrants during the Biden administration, using derogatory expressions to refer to them. He stated that thousands of individuals with criminal records had entered the country "unchecked," blaming border policy for the rise in overdose deaths.
These statements, which included direct attacks on specific communities, sparked strong reactions and renewed public debate on immigration, border security, and the opioid crisis in the United States.