Rand Paul Condemns JD Vance’s ‘Despicable’ Comments Following Deadly US Strike on Venezuelan Boat

Republican Senator Rand Paul has sharply criticized fellow Republican JD Vance for “despicable” comments that appeared to endorse extrajudicial military killings. Paul’s condemnation comes in response to Vance’s recent statements defending a deadly US military strike in the Caribbean.

Vance took to X on Saturday, stating, “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” in defense of Tuesday’s US military strike against a Venezuelan boat. The strike, which killed 11 people the administration alleged were drug traffickers, has ignited a political firestorm. Vance further contrasted political stances, adding, “Democrats: let’s send your kids to die in Russia. Republicans: actually let’s protect our people from the scum of the earth.”

Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, vowing additional military action against purported traffickers and framing the boat attack as military activity against “terrorists” on his Truth Social platform. The controversial strike has inflamed already-high tensions between the US and Venezuela. In August, Trump dispatched warships and marines to the Caribbean, and just last Friday, reports revealed he was sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to support US military action against drug traffickers.

Some observers fear these developments could presage a full military conflict between Venezuelan and US service members. The US previously offered a $50 million bounty for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last month and, in July, signed a secret mandate approving military action against Latin American cartels deemed terrorist organizations.

Senator Paul, who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, directly challenged Vance’s sentiment. “JD ‘I don’t give a shit’ Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the ‘highest and best use of the military.’ Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird?” Paul wrote on X. He concluded by calling it “a despicable and thoughtless sentiment… to glorify killing someone without a trial.”

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