Derrick Van Orden
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Wisconsin, speaking in an interview with Newsmax
Statement summary
In a Newsmax interview on September 2, Van Orden said of "the missile strikes against these drug boats" that "Those are saving Americans' lives", and that "More Americans have died from drug overdoses than all of the casualties from every war we have ever fought combined".
“the missile strikes against these drug boats. Well, guess what? Those are saving Americans' lives. More Americans have died from drug overdoses than all of the casualties from every war we have ever fought combined.”
Bluesky post by journalist Aaron Rupar with a video clip of Rep. Derrick Van Orden's remarks about the missile strikes against drug boats. MS NOW reported that Van Orden made the remarks to Newsmax.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
Measured against the campaign the September 19 strike belongs to and the government's stated basis that those aboard are narcotraffickers, Van Orden defends the campaign of missile strikes on drug boats as saving American lives and cites overdose deaths as the reason. His defense rests on the effect of the campaign, not on evidence about any particular vessel.