The President emphasized: "Today I am taking another step to protect Americans from the influx of deadly fentanyl that has flooded our country. No bomb causes as much damage as this."
Under current U.S. law, there are criminal penalties for the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction, which can lead to punishment up to the death penalty. The definition of weapons of mass destruction includes "biological agents, toxins, or delivery systems."
However, as CNN points out, the president does not have the authority to change legislation through executive orders. A former federal prosecutor specializing in national security issues expressed doubts about the legal validity of this order.
The order asserts that "illegally used fentanyl is closer to chemical weapons than to drugs." Attorney General Pam Bondi has been tasked with initiating investigations and legal actions against those involved in the illegal trafficking of fentanyl.
Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have been instructed to take action regarding financial assets and institutions related to the production and sale of fentanyl and its precursors.
The order also emphasizes that the production and distribution of fentanyl pose a threat to U.S. national security. The revenues from its sales, it states, are used by foreign terrorist groups and drug cartels to finance violence and subversive activities, threatening the country's internal security.
Legal experts in the U.S. note that this move is politically motivated and question the legality of classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, believing such decisions should be made by Congress.
According to a recent federal assessment published in May, the number of overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2024 has dropped to the lowest levels in the past five years, although fentanyl and synthetic opioids continue to be the leading cause of overdose deaths.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegset also reported that medals for "Service on the Mexican Border" were awarded at the ceremony in the White House, which were first established by Congress in 1918.
The United States continues to conduct operations in the Caribbean aimed at combating drug trafficking. Last week, U.S. military forces seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela and plan to intercept other vessels carrying Venezuelan oil.
In recent months, the U.S. has carried out over 20 strikes on vessels that, according to American authorities, were transporting drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 people. Experts point out that such actions could be viewed as extrajudicial killings, while U.S. authorities claim they are protecting the country from drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations.
