Could Trump's boat strikes turn into war?
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 20 October 2025
⏱️ 24 minutes
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Summary
Since September, the United States has taken credit for at least seven attacks against boats in the Caribbean, killing dozens of people. The Trump administration claims they were carrying deadly drugs into the U.S. from Venezuela and could be treated as though they’re enemy troops.
Officials, however, have not publicly disclosed any evidence to verify President Donald Trump's claims. Then last week, two people survived a U.S. attack, but they were not from Venezuela.
Today, host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national security reporter Alex Horton about the survivors of this recent U.S. boat strike in the Caribbean and how it’s fueling more political tension in Latin America and speculation about a larger U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon, with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Peter Bresnan with help from Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Andy deGrandpre.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Trump administration's war on alleged narco-terrorists is escalating tensions across Latin America. |
| 0:08.2 | For weeks, the U.S. military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean. |
| 0:13.1 | The Trump administration claims that the people on board are smuggling illegal drugs into the United States from Venezuela. |
| 0:20.2 | There is no concrete evidence, at least none that is available to the public, to verify |
| 0:25.3 | President Trump's claims. |
| 0:27.5 | Meanwhile, the strikes have completely destroyed the boats and killed all passengers on board. |
| 0:33.4 | Without survivors, it is difficult to know the truth. |
| 0:37.1 | But then last week, |
| 0:38.5 | The latest strike had a twist. |
| 0:41.4 | At least two people on board survived the blast. |
| 0:44.7 | Two people on the boat surviving, then picked up by the U.S. Navy. |
| 0:48.9 | It's not clear just yet what would be done with the survivors |
| 0:52.3 | who the people said were being held by a Navy |
| 0:55.4 | vessel in that area. |
| 0:58.0 | On Thursday, two survivors were rescued after the U.S. struck a boat off the coast of Venezuela. |
| 1:03.8 | National security reporter Alex Horton was stunned when he heard this news. |
| 1:08.1 | I wouldn't have imagined that two survivors would have come off the boat, and I don't |
| 1:12.0 | think the Pentagon even thought about that of what happens if not everyone dies. |
| 1:19.3 | From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post reports. |
| 1:22.9 | I'm Kolby Ekowitz. |
| 1:24.3 | It's Monday, October 20th. |
| 1:26.9 | Today, Alex explains how these survivors complicate the Trump administration's narrative about |
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