Comments on Military Actions Raise Concerns
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes made a provocative statement on Wednesday, suggesting that Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could, hypothetically, target her opponents if she were president. He tied this idea to the actions of Republicans in supporting what he described as narco-terrorist attacks.
The context for Himes’ remarks stemmed from the Trump administration’s series of airstrikes—specifically eight aimed at terrorist vessels in the Caribbean, intended to stop drug trafficking into the U.S. During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Chris Jansing Report,” Himes characterized these strikes as illegal and related them to potential threats against political opponents.
“If Lindsey Graham and other Republicans believe it’s acceptable for Americans to kill people simply because there’s support from the public,” Himes argued, “then that’s a problem we really need to think carefully about.” He went on to suggest that one day, a Democratic president could be in charge, implying that past support for these military actions might not be so easy to reconcile.
He further noted, “All my MAGA friends who are in favor of these illegal actions should consider who might be at risk if President Ocasio-Cortez were to act without regard for legal constraints.”
Himes’ statements come in the wake of the September 10 killing of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, an incident that some on the left seemed to downplay. Following Kirk’s death, Ocasio-Cortez voted against a resolution honoring him and expressed her views on the House floor, criticizing him as “ignorant.”
In related news, there have been attempts against former President Trump, with two individuals charged with trying to kill him in 2024. A jury recently found one of these individuals guilty of multiple counts related to the attempt on Trump’s life.
Further military actions, such as the targeting of a suspected drug-laden boat on October 22, resulted in the deaths of two suspected terrorists, as confirmed by Army Secretary Pete Hegseth. Earlier operations have also led to significant casualties among recognized terrorist groups linked to drug trafficking.
