In mid-2025, Donald Trump signed a classified directive authorizing the military to use force against a list of 24 drug trafficking organizations.

What we found

Supports. The New York Times reported in August 2025 that Trump had secretly signed a directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels.[1]

Supports. The Intercept reported that the administration's secret list of 24 designated terrorist organizations is attached to a classified Justice Department opinion, citing three government sources.[2]

Supports. A federal court filing citing Washington Post reporting describes a July 25, 2025 presidential directive authorizing force against designated terrorist organizations, with an annex listing 24 entities.[3]

Supports. Sen. Tim Kaine, after reviewing classified documents, described a July 2025 still-classified directive authorizing military force against organizations on a classified target list.[4]

Supports. A research report dates the classified directive to July 25, 2025 and describes the list as 24 'Designated Terrorist Organizations'.[5]

Context. The claim's 'mid-2025' timing is consistent with the July 2025 date given in several sources, and the list's contents are classified, so the exact count and identities rest on reporting from anonymous officials and filings rather than a public document.[2][3][5]

Sources

5 sources: 2 tier 2, 3 not rated

1. 1Trump Directs Military to Target Foreign Drug Cartels - ny timesnytimes.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
2. 2Trump Has a Secret List of 24 “Designated Terrorist Organizations ...theintercept.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports, context
3. 3Microsoft Word - ACLUSept29FINAL - cleanstorage.courtlistener.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
4. 4Kaine: U.S. boat strikes may have killed people not tied to ...yahoo.com · not rated · cited for: supports
5. 5Killing Spree: Extrajudicial executions in the U.S. boat strikes campaignwola.org · not rated · cited for: supports, context

Where this claim was made

Said in 1 published post

• Behind the Bastards · Oct 3, 2026“In mid-2025, Trump signed a classified directive that authorized the military to use force against a secret list of 24 Dto's.”Post →

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