The White House has issued a new executive order focused on election integrity, mandating enhanced citizenship verification systems and new standards for mail-in ballots, including tracking identifiers. Federal agencies will coordinate with states, while enforcement efforts against election violations are set to increase ahead of future federal elections.

Presidential Actions

ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.), the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.), and the Federal Government’s constitutional obligation to guarantee a republican form of Government to every State in the Union, U.S. Const. Art. IV, Sec. 4, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  The right to vote in Federal elections is reserved exclusively for citizens of the United States under the Constitution and Federal law.  Federal statutes explicitly prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote or voting in Federal elections and impose criminal penalties for violations.  (18 U.S.C. 241; 18 U.S.C. 611; 18 U.S.C. 1015; and 52 U.S.C. 20511).  The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains records that, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program under 42 U.S.C. 1320b-7, can assist in verifying identity and Federal election voter eligibility.  

The Federal Government has an unavoidable duty under Article II of the Constitution of the United States to enforce Federal law, which includes preventing violations of Federal criminal law and maintaining public confidence in election outcomes.  To enhance election integrity via the United States Mail, additional measures are necessary.  Secure ballot envelope identifiers provide a reliable, auditable mechanism to enforce Federal law without unduly burdening or infringing on the rights of eligible voters.  Unique ballot envelope identifiers, such as bar codes, enable confirmation that only citizens receive and cast ballots, reducing the risk of fraud and protecting the integrity of Federal elections.  

Sec. 2.  Establishment and Transmission of State Citizenship Lists and Prioritization of Investigations and Prosecutions Related to Election Fraud.  (a)  To the extent feasible and consistent with applicable law, including but not limited to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and in coordination with the Commissioner of SSA, shall take appropriate action to compile and transmit to the chief election official of each State a list of individuals confirmed to be United States citizens who will be above the age of 18 at the time of an upcoming Federal election and who maintain a residence in the subject State (State Citizenship List).  The State Citizenship List shall be derived from Federal citizenship and naturalization records, SSA records, SAVE data, and other relevant Federal databases.  The State Citizenship List shall be updated and transmitted to State election officials no fewer than 60 days before each regularly scheduled Federal election, or promptly upon request by a State in connection with any special Federal election.  The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish procedures to (i) allow individuals to access their individual records as well as to update or correct them in advance of elections; and (ii) enable States to routinely supplement and provide suggested modifications or amendments to the State Citizenship List transmitted thereto.  An individual’s identification on the State Citizenship List does not indicate that the individual has been properly registered to vote in the State.  State and Federal laws and State procedures must still be followed for an individual to be registered to vote.  There may be State laws, not reflected in the State Citizenship List, that preclude voter registration, or the individual may choose not to be registered.

(b)  For purposes of this order, an individual is “eligible to vote in a Federal election” if the individual is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older by the date of the upcoming election, and otherwise qualified under the laws of his or her State.  The Attorney General shall prioritize the investigation and, as appropriate, the prosecution of State and local officials or any others involved in the administration of Federal elections who issue Federal ballots to individuals not eligible to vote in a Federal election, including under 18 U.S.C. 2(a), 18 U.S.C. 241, 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 611(a), 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 1015, 52 U.S.C. 10307, and 52 U.S.C. 20511.  Similarly, the Attorney General shall prioritize the investigation and, as appropriate, the prosecution of individuals and public or private entities engaged in, or aiding and abetting, the printing, production, shipment, or distribution of ballots to individuals who are not eligible to vote in a Federal election. 

Sec. 3.  United States Postal Service Rulemaking on Mail-In and Absentee Ballots.  (a)  The unlawful use of the mail in connection with elections is prohibited by various Federal statutes, including 18 U.S.C. 1341, 18 U.S.C. 1708, 52 U.S.C. 10307, and 52 U.S.C. 20511.  

(b)  To ensure the faithful execution of Federal law, protect the integrity of the mail as a medium for transmitting Federal election ballots and establish uniform standards for mail-in or absentee ballot services implemented through the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Postmaster General is hereby directed to initiate a proposed rulemaking pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 401 and other applicable authority within 60 days of the date of this order.  The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include, at minimum, the following:

(i)    Proposed provisions specifying that all outbound ballot mail must be mailed in an envelope that:

(A)  is marked as Official Election Mail, including through designated markings provided by USPS for this purpose, such as the Official Election Mail logo, as necessary and appropriate;

(B)  is automation-compatible and bears a unique Intelligent Mail barcode, or successor USPS technology, that facilitates tracking and is consistent with the other requirements of this section; and

(C)  has undergone a mail envelope design review by the USPS to ensure compliance with USPS mailing standards, including barcode placement.

(ii)   Proposed provisions specifying that, no fewer than 90 days prior to a Federal election, any State may choose to notify the USPS if it intends to allow for mail-in or absentee ballots to be transmitted by the USPS.  As part of that notification, any notifying State should further indicate whether it intends to submit to the USPS, no fewer than 60 days before the election, a list of voters eligible to vote in a Federal election in such State to whom the State intends to provide a mail-in or absentee ballot to be transmitted via the USPS. 

(iii)  Proposed provisions specifying that the USPS shall not transmit mail-in or absentee ballots from any individual unless those individuals have been enrolled on a State-specific list described in subsection (b)(iv) of this section with the USPS pursuant to this subsection.

(iv)   Proposed provisions specifying that the USPS shall provide each State with a list of individuals (Mail-In and Absentee Participation List) who are enrolled with the USPS, pursuant to a process specified in the rulemaking directed by this subsection, for mail-in or absentee ballots provided by such State, along with unique ballot envelope identifiers, such as bar codes, for mail-in or absentee ballots provided to such individuals.  The preparation and transmission of each State-specific Mail-In and Absentee Participation List shall comply with the Privacy Act and all applicable use agreements. 

(v)    Proposed procedures enabling each State to routinely supplement and provide suggested modifications or amendments to the State’s Mail-In and Absentee Participation List in advance of any Federal election, consistent with applicable State law. 

(c)  The USPS shall coordinate with the USPS Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice for investigation of suspected unlawful use of the mail involving Federal election materials. 

(d)  Any final rule pursuant to this section shall be issued no later than 120 days from the date of this order.

Sec. 4.  Implementation.  (a)  The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner of SSA, and the Postmaster General shall coordinate with the Secretary of Commerce in effectuating all relevant aspects of the implementation of this order.

(b)  The Attorney General shall enforce compliance with the applicable Federal statutes referenced herein and provide guidance to election officials, including any instrumentalities thereof; contractors; individuals involved in the administration of Federal elections; or public or private entities engaged in the printing, production, shipment, or distribution of ballots.

(c)  The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, within 90 days of the date of this order, establish the infrastructure necessary to compile, maintain, and transmit the State Citizenship List described in section 2(a) of this order, and shall designate a point of contact within DHS to receive and process requests from individuals and State election officials regarding the relevant State Citizenship List.  The Commissioner of SSA shall provide all necessary citizenship and identity data to the Secretary of Homeland Security in support of this requirement, consistent with applicable law, the Privacy Act, and all applicable use agreements.

Sec. 5.  Enforcement.  The Attorney General and the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) with relevant authority shall take all lawful steps to deter and address noncompliance with Federal law, including withholding Federal funds from noncompliant States and localities where such withholding is authorized by law.  Evidence of violations of existing Federal laws by State or local election officials; States or localities, including any instrumentalities thereof; contractors; individuals involved in the administration of Federal elections; or public or private entities engaged in the printing, production, shipment, or distribution of ballots may be referred to the Department of Justice for consideration of investigation or charges under 18 U.S.C. 2(a), 18 U.S.C. 241, 18 U.S.C. 371, 18 U.S.C. 611(a), 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 1015, 52 U.S.C. 10307, and 52 U.S.C. 20511.  States and localities should preserve, for a 5-year period, all records and materials — excluding ballots cast — evidencing voter participation in any Federal election (e.g., ballot envelopes, regardless of carrier).

Sec. 6.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any agency, person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other agencies, persons, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)  the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                             DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    March 31, 2026.

Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

Donald Trump claimed U.S. strikes wiped out Iran’s navy, air force, and key missile systems, leaving the regime in collapse. He said Washington is now dealing with a “new group” of leaders ready to negotiate — and even sending oil shipments as a sign of submission. A deal may be near, but Trump warned: force remains on the table.

readable transcript:

President Trump:

Hello everybody.

We had very good negotiations today with Iran. We’re getting a lot of the things they should have given us a long time ago. We’ll see how it works out, but things are moving very nicely.

We’ve destroyed many additional targets today — it was a big day. Their navy is gone, their air force is gone, and most of their capabilities have been eliminated.

At the same time, we are negotiating — both directly and indirectly. We have emissaries, but we are also dealing directly.

Iran recently agreed to send shipments of oil — first 10 large shipments, and now an additional 20. These are moving through the Strait of Hormuz starting tomorrow. I view that as a sign of respect.

We’re doing very well in negotiations — but with Iran, you never know. We negotiate, and sometimes we still have to act militarily.

I terminated the Iran nuclear deal made under President Obama — one of the worst deals we’ve ever made. Otherwise, Iran would already have nuclear weapons. We acted decisively with B-2 bombers and stopped that program.

Now we may make a deal — I think we probably will — but it’s also possible we won’t.

On “regime change” in Iran

What we’re seeing is effectively regime change.

The original leadership — gone.
The second group — mostly gone.
Now we’re dealing with a third group — completely different people, and they seem much more reasonable.

So while regime change wasn’t the goal, we effectively have it.

On the White House ballroom project

I also want to show something important.

For over 150 years, presidents have wanted to build a proper ballroom at the White House. Right now, we don’t have adequate space to host major world leaders.

We are building a new ballroom — same height as the White House, architecturally matched. It will be one of the finest ballrooms in the world.

It will include:

• Bulletproof glass
• Drone-proof roofing
• Security infrastructure

And importantly: no taxpayer money is being used. It’s fully funded by me and private donors.

The military is also constructing a secure complex underneath it.

We’re ahead of schedule and under budget.

Military situation

We are weeks ahead of where anyone expected us to be.

If you had said just days ago that we would:

• eliminate their navy
• destroy their air force
• take out most missile systems

— nobody would have believed it.

Missile attacks are still happening, but they are significantly reduced.

On negotiations

We presented Iran with a 15-point plan.

They’ve agreed to most of it — and even sent oil shipments as a gesture. Negotiations are ongoing, both direct and indirect.

U.S. politics — Senate & Democrats

The Senate should end the filibuster and vote.

Republicans are strong, but Democrats are acting irresponsibly. We need to:

• secure the border
• remove criminals
• enforce law and order

We now have a closed border and are deporting violent offenders.

On immigration enforcement (ICE)

ICE is essential.

They are:

• removing criminals
• dealing with violent offenders
• protecting Americans

We cannot have a country if we allow unchecked entry of dangerous individuals.

On elections

We need:

• voter ID
• proof of citizenship
• limits on mail-in voting

Mail-in ballots are inherently unreliable, except for special cases (military, sick, disabled, travelers).

This is supported by the majority of voters.

On Cuba

Cuba is failing and will likely collapse soon.

We will help — especially Cuban Americans whose families suffered under the Castro regime.

Allowing oil shipments into Cuba (even from Russia) is acceptable — people need energy to survive.

On Middle East

Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain) are fighting back strongly.

We maintain strong communication with them.

If necessary, we can act very quickly to control key strategic areas.

Closing

Iran is in a weakened position.

They will either:

• give up nuclear ambitions
• or risk losing everything

We are in a strong position, and the situation is moving in our favor.

Thank you.

Mar 29, 2026Air Force One

Sources: White House official video , Mistown Tribune

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

:
Decades after returning home without recognition, Vietnam War veterans are finally receiving the honor they deserve. The White House marks March 29 as a permanent day of remembrance while pointing to major reforms in veteran care, including faster benefits processing, new clinics, and expanded support for aging and homeless veterans.

Presidential Message on National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Beginning in 1965, millions of American heroes courageously departed their homeland and arrived in the jungles of Vietnam to halt the spread of communism and defend the cause of freedom against forces of evil and oppression.  On March 29, 1973, after 8 years of excruciating battle, the last United States military forces withdrew, and our final prisoners of war were released—solidifying their place in history as gallant warriors for liberty and guardians against tyranny.  This National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we solemnly honor these patriots for their extraordinary courage, steadfast resilience, and unbreakable bond of brotherhood while enduring one of the most gruesome combat experiences in American history.

For the better part of a decade, our warriors endured suffocating heat, relentless monsoon rains, treacherous terrains, and the merciless brutality of guerilla warfare.  After 8 years of battle, 58,000 American service members had been killed, and more than 300,000 were wounded—making the Vietnam War one of the deadliest engagements that our military has ever seen.

After valiantly serving through such brutal combat, many Vietnam veterans returned home without the welcome and gratitude that they so rightly deserved and had earned.  Today, we pledge that their service—and the service of every veteran—will never be forgotten or diminished.  As President, I will always ensure that our veterans have the respect and support our country owes them.  During my first term in office, I proudly signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act to designate March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day—enshrining a permanent, annual day of remembrance for the brave souls who fought in Vietnam.

Since returning to office last year, I have worked tirelessly to empower and uplift our veterans. My Administration has secured historic tax relief for senior citizens, including many of our eldest veterans.  We are expanding access to care, opening more than 30 new veteran health clinics to date across the country.  We are constructing the National Center for Warrior Independence, which will house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028.  Meanwhile, under my leadership, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)’s backlog of veterans waiting for benefits has dropped more than 60 percent since last year.  The VA is processing record numbers of disability claims.  And earlier this month, the VA announced the Claim Assist Portal, a new and easier way for veterans to respond to VA claim requests—and the VA and Department of Justice signed an agreement to help our most vulnerable veterans get the care they need.

Today, we stand united in gratitude for the courageous service and love of country exemplified by the patriots who fought in the Vietnam War.  As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we reaffirm our Nation’s sacred promise to always support and honor every hero who has fought in defense of our freedom, our home, and our way of life.  You will always have my unfailing loyalty and support.

The White House

March 29, 2026

Sources: WhiteHouse.gov , Midtown Tribune

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

White House. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance Participate in Signing Time, Mar. 16, 2026

This video features President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance announcing a major executive order aimed at rooting out fraud within federally funded programs (0:04). The administration estimates that billions to hundreds of billions of dollars are being lost to fraudulent activity, particularly mentioning issues in Minnesota and California (0:46).Key Highlights of the Initiative:

• Task Force Creation: An executive order establishes a new task force chaired by Vice President JD Vance, with Andrew Ferguson (FTC) serving as vice chairman (0:41 – 0:58).
• Whole-of-Government Approach: The initiative forces different federal agencies, such as the Treasury and Health and Human Services, to share data to detect financial and Medicaid fraud (7:46).
• Combating Fraud in Minnesota: Specific attention is paid to fraud involving Medicaid programs meant for autistic children in Minneapolis (6:41).
• Targeting Illegal Immigration: The administration connects widespread fraud to illegal immigrants receiving benefits like Medicaid and free hospital care (4:12 – 5:07).
• Drug Price Reduction: President Trump highlights the success of his Most Favored Nations policy in significantly lowering prescription drug prices (9:14 – 10:10).Following the signing of the executive order, the President takes questions covering the war in Iran (21:01), the potential for future foreign policy actions in Cuba (48:24), and domestic issues like the Save America Act (39:28).

Thank you very much, everybody. I appreciate it.

This is a very big thing that we’re doing. It’s about fraud — all the fraud that’s taking place in our country. We have two people who are extremely brilliant and very talented, and they’re going to be put in charge.

I’d like to ask Will to give a brief description of what we’re signing in this executive order, and then I’ll ask JD to speak.

Will said that, as stated in the State of the Union address, in light of widespread revelations of fraud in federally funded programs in states like Minnesota and California, this executive order will establish a new task force aimed at rooting out that fraud and returning potentially billions, tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions of dollars to the American taxpayer.

The task force will be chaired by the vice president. The vice chair will be FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. According to Will, this will launch a whole-of-government approach to deal with what he described as a very serious problem in federally funded programs around the country.

Trump then said that in Minnesota alone there was $19 billion connected to one aspect of fraud, and that California was supposedly much worse. He said this is not a Republican or Democrat issue in theory, but claimed it appears to happen most heavily in blue states. He added that if it is happening in red states, his administration will go there too.

He then moved into accusations involving Minnesota, Somalia, Governor Tim Walz, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and the state attorney general, saying he believed they were complicit and that investigators should look into it.

Trump argued that if even half of the fraud taking place in the country were uncovered, the federal budget could be more than balanced. He described the theft as incredible and suggested the federal government should not be deeply involved in many domestic service areas such as nursing homes.

He also complained about federal spending connected to illegal immigration, saying the federal government had been paying out money in ways it should not, and said, “We’re not paying them anymore.”

Trump then joked that JD Vance would actually do the job and that this would not be like Kamala Harris being put in charge of the border and, in his telling, never really handling it. He then invited Stephen Miller to speak.

Stephen Miller said that while the illegal flow across the southern border had been stopped under Trump, Democrats had set up a system that funneled hundreds of billions — and ultimately trillions — of dollars to migrants in the country, often mentioning Somalia. He gave an example involving illegal immigrants in detention who, he claimed, admitted they were receiving Medicaid or free hospital care billed to taxpayers.

Miller said this was only one example of broader abuse and argued that, under Trump’s leadership and with JD Vance and Andrew Ferguson involved, this would be the first serious effort in American history to reclaim massive sums stolen from taxpayers. He claimed that stopping this theft could be enough to balance the budget and called it a primary cause of the national debt.

Trump followed by saying this kind of cheating had been going on for years and had to stop. He made further harsh comments about Somalia, described it as one of the worst and most dangerous countries, and alleged that billions of dollars had been stolen by people coming from there. He also repeated allegations about Ilhan Omar, including the old claim that she married her brother, and said he hoped someone would investigate that too.

JD Vance then spoke and described the executive order as a whole-of-government approach to tackle fraud. He told a story about supposed fraud in Minneapolis involving Somali immigrants and a Medicaid program meant for autistic children. He said children were being falsely labeled autistic so that benefits could be claimed, which in his telling enriched fraudsters while depriving American children of services they needed.

Vance said the administration discovered that different federal agencies were not properly sharing fraud evidence with one another. He said the executive order would force the federal government to do two things: stop fraud against taxpayers and ensure benefits intended for American citizens actually go to them rather than to fraudsters.

Andrew Ferguson then said millions of Americans pay into these programs and expect something in return, but fraud is siphoning money into fake businesses. He argued that it is unfair both to taxpayers and especially to vulnerable Americans who need those resources most. He also suggested the previous administration had been lax in enforcing anti-fraud controls.

Trump interrupted to say the previous administration was not merely lax but fraudulent. He then shifted topics to prescription drug prices, describing his “Most Favored Nations” drug pricing policy and claiming it had taken the U.S. from having the highest prescription drug prices in the world to the lowest. He argued that while his administration worked hard to save money in this way, fraud was simultaneously draining public funds.

He continued to say the fraud task force could be one of the most important initiatives his administration had launched. He repeated claims about exploding spending related to autism in Minnesota, suggesting the rise itself proved corruption.

Trump then signed the order and said they would take questions from the media.

When asked why previous leaders had not addressed systemic fraud, Trump responded that they were crooked, made money from it, and gained power from it. He alleged that Somali voters in Minnesota vote as a bloc in exchange for benefits and said officials in Minnesota and New York were corrupt.

A reporter then asked JD Vance about critics calling them “the frauds” and about Vance’s position on the war in Iran. Vance dismissed the criticism, said the administration was actually tackling real problems, and stated that Trump had consistently held that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. He said the administration had taken military action under Trump’s leadership and that Americans should pray for success and for the safety of U.S. troops.

Trump then launched into an extended defense of military action against Iran. He said he does not want wars, but insisted Iran’s leadership is violent and vicious and would use a nuclear weapon if it obtained one. He argued that anyone who believes Iran should have a nuclear weapon is either naive, evil, or stupid.

He claimed that if he had not destroyed Obama’s Iran nuclear deal and then later taken military action, Iran would already have used nuclear weapons in the Middle East. He praised U.S. military technology, especially B-2 bombers, and described the strikes as devastating and precise. He claimed Iran’s navy, air force, anti-aircraft systems, factories, drones, missiles, and leadership had been largely destroyed.

Trump also said many foreign governments should be thanking the United States, especially countries that depend heavily on Middle Eastern oil routes. He criticized allies, especially within NATO and the UK, for not stepping up quickly enough to help, and complained that America spends enormous sums defending other countries without guaranteed support in return.

He then described Iran as a sick regime with a dangerous ideology and religious fervor, and said the U.S. had done a great thing for the world by crippling it.

Later in the press conference, Trump shifted back to domestic politics. He discussed what he called the “Save America Act,” saying it must pass the Senate. He argued that Democrats stick together politically even when their policies are bad, while Republicans often split apart. He then listed policies he said should be overwhelmingly popular: voter ID with a photo, proof of citizenship, and restrictions on mail-in ballots.

He claimed that most Democrats also support voter ID and proof of citizenship, and said widespread mail voting is vulnerable to fraud because too many hands touch the ballots. He also added culture-war issues to the same legislative package, including banning transgender participation in women’s sports and ending what he called the mutilation of children through gender-related medical procedures.

Trump then attacked California Governor Gavin Newsom, mocking him and making insulting remarks about his intelligence and past public comments.

Toward the end, Trump was asked whether a ground force might be needed in Iran to secure nuclear material. He refused to answer, calling it a stupid question for any president to answer publicly. He also said a possible trip to Beijing might be delayed because of the war.

Asked about Cuba, Trump said it is a failed nation with great people and beautiful land, and suggested that he might have the honor of “taking Cuba” in some form or freeing it, though he did not explain what that meant in practical terms.

JD Vance was later asked whether halting Medicaid payments to Minnesota over fraud concerns could become a broader model. He said there were two clear tools: first, stop payments when fraud is identified; second, use law enforcement to prosecute criminal conduct. He said DOJ involvement was essential because much of the fraud, in his view, is criminal and intentional.

The press conference ended with Trump taking a question about DHS funding. He blamed Democrats for refusing to provide funding and called them bad people who do not love the country. He then thanked everyone and ended the event.

Sources: WH.gov , Midtown Tribune news

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

President Donald Trump’s March 7, 2026 proclamation lays out an aggressive new anti-cartel doctrine, calling for the destruction of criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere “to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law.” The proclamation says the United States will work with allies to strip these groups of territory, money, weapons access, and outside influence, while training and mobilizing partner-nation militaries to build a stronger regional force against cartel violence. It also highlights the newly formed Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, involving representatives from 17 countries, as a sign that Washington is pushing beyond law enforcement toward a broader hard-power strategy against organized crime.

COMMITMENT TO COUNTERING CARTEL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The United States, under my leadership, has demonstrated a sustained commitment towards achieving the dismantlement of cartels and foreign terrorists operating in the Western Hemisphere.  My Administration has designated a number of cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations and has since dedicated unprecedented resources towards their destruction.  These international entities control territories and commerce, extort political and judicial systems, wield arms and field military capabilities, and use assassinations and terrorism to achieve their ends.  In furtherance of our efforts, the Secretary of War established the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a pledge from military leaders and representatives from 17 countries demonstrating that the region is ready to operationalize hard power to defeat these threats to our security and civilization.  We will address these grave dangers by use of any necessary resources and legally available authorities, together with our partner nations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim as follows: 

(1)  Criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere should be demolished to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law.

(2)  The United States and its allies should coordinate to deprive these organizations of any control of territory and access to financing or resources necessary to conduct their campaigns of violence.

(3)  The United States will train and mobilize partner nation militaries to achieve the most effective fighting force necessary to dismantle cartels and their ability to export violence and pursue influence through organized intimidation.

(4)  The United States and its allies should keep external threats at bay, including malign foreign influences from outside the Western Hemisphere.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Proclamations

March 7, 2026

It’s a pretty wild time, but it’s going very well. Sit down, please.

Tremendous progress has been made, as you’re probably seeing just by watching. We’re doing something very significant. I built the military, rebuilt it, and made it really strong during my first administration. Along with a lot of other things we did, we had a great first term, and now we’re using that strength. Unfortunately, we have to. But you’re seeing how great it is. There is no military like it on Earth — not even close.

And we’re doing very well in Iran. You can see the results. It’s been amazing. We knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days. That was the end of their Navy. We knocked out their air force. We knocked out their communications — all telecommunications are gone. I don’t know how they communicate now, but I guess they’ll figure something out. It’s not working out too well for them. And they are bad people — just bad people.

When you look at October 7 and everything beyond October 7, look at all the killing they’ve done over 47 years. This had to be done. They were very close to a nuclear weapon. They would have had one if we hadn’t carried out our B-2 strike, Midnight Hammer. They would have had a nuclear weapon eight months ago. And you know they’re crazy — they would have used it. So we did the world a favor.

Someone asked me, “On a scale of 0 to 10, how are you doing with the attack?” I said, “About a 15,” with 10 being the best. It’s something that had to be done, and we’re doing it well. I want to thank everybody involved.

I’ll be leaving right after this for Dover. It’s a very sad situation. I’m going there to greet the families of the heroes coming home from Iran — coming home in a very different way than they thought they would. But they are great heroes in our country, and we’re going to keep it that way. When it comes to war, there is always tragedy. But we’re going to keep it to a minimum, I think, Pete. And what we’re doing is really a service — not just for the Middle East, but for the world. These were sick people, very sick people.

This morning, I’m honored to welcome distinguished heads of state from across the Western Hemisphere for the first Shield of the Americas Summit. It is something very, very special. Marco has been working on it very hard, and so have a lot of other people, because this region is very important to us. It’s nice to be home. It’s very important. We travel all over the world — 9,000 miles away, 12,000 miles away. I ask, “How long is this flight, sir?” “Nineteen hours.” I say, “Oh, that’s great.” Now I have flights that last two hours. I like that much better.

But on this historic day, we come together to announce a brand-new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels plaguing our region. We were talking backstage, and you were telling me about the crime and the cartels. We’re knocking the hell out of them where we can, and we’re going to go even heavier. You saw what we were doing with the boats coming in. There aren’t many people coming in by boat anymore. Drugs coming in by sea are down 96%. We’re trying to find out who the other 4% are, because I think they must be the bravest people in the world — or maybe they just don’t watch television.

We’re calling this military partnership the America’s Counter-Cartel Coalition. That’s what you need. The cartels seem to grow unbelievably rapidly in this region, largely because of drugs. Earlier this week in Miami, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is right here — Pete, you’re fantastic, doing a great job, we’re proud of you — and representatives of 17 different nations formally entered into this new alliance.

At the heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks once and for all. We’ll get rid of them. We need your help. You just have to tell us where they are. We have amazing weaponry, as you have probably noticed over the last short period of time.

I want to thank the members of the coalition, most of whom are friends of mine, and a few of whom I just met. Many of them I endorsed, and they took that endorsement and went on to win big. I haven’t had a bad endorsement yet.

The President of Argentina is here — Javier Milei, thank you very much for being here. The President of El Salvador, another friend — a man we’ve gotten very close to. When I first saw him, I thought he was too young, but then I saw the job he did and I changed my mind. He has been a great president, and we appreciate the relationship very much.

Also here are the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino; the President of Honduras; the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali; the President of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; the President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves; the president-elect of Costa Rica, Laura Fernández Delgado; the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader; and the president-elect of Chile, José Kast. Congratulations to all of you.

I want to thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his leadership in organizing this really important summit. He’s fantastic — a fantastic Secretary of State. Thus far, we’ve had the most incredible year of any president. I ended eight wars. We’re not going into all of that today, but what we’ve done is incredible, and we’re going to be doing some incredible things together.

All of the nations in this room share the same priorities: security, prosperity, free commerce, and the rule of law. That’s why together we are also forming the Shield of the Americas, a new organization to advance these shared priorities in our hemisphere.

For decades, leaders in this region allowed large swaths of territory in the Western Hemisphere to come under the control of transnational gangs and bloodthirsty cartels that impose their will through murder, torture, extortion, drug trafficking, bribery, and terror. Some of you are in danger — real danger. It’s hard to believe, but we are working with you to do whatever we have to do. If you need help, we will help.

Many of the cartels have developed sophisticated military operations. In some cases, they are said to be more powerful than the military in the country itself. We cannot have that. These brutal criminal organizations pose an unacceptable threat to national security, and they provide a dangerous gateway for foreign adversaries in our region. They are a cancer, and we do not want that cancer spreading.

Every leader here today is united in the conviction that we cannot and will not tolerate this lawlessness in our hemisphere any longer. The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries. You have to use your military. You cannot fight these people with ordinary policing alone.

Just as we formed a coalition to eradicate ISIS in the Middle East, we must now do the same to eradicate the cartels closer to home. As part of our commitment to countering cartel violence, we must recognize that the epicenter of cartel violence is Mexico. The Mexican cartels are fueling and orchestrating much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere. The United States government will do whatever is necessary to defend our national security and protect the safety of the American people.

At the same time, all of us must recommit ourselves to ensuring law and order within our own nations. That includes showing zero tolerance for gang activity. The savages who murder and rape with impunity must be permanently removed from society. We must not allow our criminal justice systems to be corrupted so that they protect criminals at the expense of the people.

By securing our border and cracking down on traffickers and smugglers, we’ve reduced fentanyl pouring across our border by 67% in our first year. With a little more time, we’ll do even better. We’ve also been working closely with many of you to end human smuggling and implement safe third-country agreements.

We are also looking forward to major change in Venezuela and Cuba. Under our new doctrine — and it is a doctrine — we will not allow hostile foreign influence to gain a foothold in this hemisphere. That includes the Panama Canal. Together, we will protect our sovereignty, our security, and our cherished freedom and independence.

The nations gathered here today are filled with unlimited potential. But to fulfill that tremendous potential, we must smash the grip of the cartels, criminal gangs, and violent organizations that have terrorized our people for too long. With the courage and resolve of the leaders in this room, we will make our nations safer, stronger, richer, and more successful than ever before.

So I want to thank you all very much for coming. I look forward to the incredible progress that is soon to come. You’re going to see some incredible things. And now I’d like to ask Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth to say a few words. Then I will sign a proclamation formally launching the America’s Counter-Cartel Coalition.

Thank you all very much for being here. We appreciate it.

Sources: WhiteHouse.gov , Midtown Tribune news

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