The Trump administration says a U.S. military strike on a boat leaving Venezuela killed 11 people that the White House identified as drug traffickers. Vance defended the action in a recent post saying, "Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military."
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.”
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 7, 2025
Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird?
Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation??… https://t.co/VdnJbZkGfS
Paul issued a pointed response — calling it a "despicable and thoughtless sentiment" to "glorify killing someone without a trial." Paul went on to ask if Vance had read "To Kill a Mockingbird."
In an appearance on Newsmax, the Kentucky senator said the strike needed legal justification. He cited rules of engagement off the U.S. coast.
"Off our coast it isn't our policy just to blow people up. We don't blow up ships entering our waters unless they're hellbent on attacking another ship or unless they are resisting with gunfire. We arrest people," he said. "It's hard because obviously there are bad people, so they want something bad to happen to them. But typically even the worst people in our country, if we accuse somebody of a terrible crime, they still get a trial."
The online dispute arose after a social media personality and podcaster wrote that killing civilians without any due process "is called a war crime." Vance responded: "I don't give a s*** what you call it."