Donald Trump drew attention this month by defending a U.S. military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers while making exaggerated claims about drug deaths. Earlier in September, Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. forces had destroyed a boat operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in international waters. He said the strike killed 11 “narcoterrorists” transporting drugs bound for the U.S., with no American casualties.

“Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” Trump wrote. The operation drew criticism from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who called it illegal. In response, Trump told Fox News: “What’s illegal are the drugs… and the fact that 300 million people died last year from drugs.”

The remark stunned observers, since the U.S. population is about 340 million. According to the CDC, nearly 75,000 Americans died from overdoses in the 12 months ending March 2025—far lower than Trump’s claim. The World Health Organization reported about 600,000 drug-related deaths worldwide in 2024.

Trump’s math error fueled widespread mockery online. Critics from both political camps joked about his inflated numbers, with one commentator quipping: “Almost the entire U.S. population died from drugs last year!” While the strike underscored Trump’s tough anti-drug stance, his misstatement quickly overshadowed the military success.