Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink didn’t mince words on My View with Lara Trump, praising President Trump’s tough stance against the drug cartels and declaring that “young men are waking up” to a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility. His comments weren’t idle praise — they reflected a broader conservative recognition that decisive action, not virtue signaling, is what protects American families from the fentanyl scourge.
The White House has backed that posture with real operations: the administration has publicly confirmed naval strikes on vessels tied to Venezuelan trafficking networks and has authorized covert CIA activity aimed at dismantling cartel pipelines. Americans fed up with the opioid epidemic should welcome leaders who finally treat narco-terrorists as what they are — enemies of our communities — instead of treating crime like a political talking point.
Willink’s point about young men waking up matters because masculinity, responsibility, and leadership are not political vulnerabilities — they’re civic strengths. When respected veterans speak about discipline, family and service, they inspire a generation that leftist elites have tried to demean and disarm with culture-war derision. Conservatives should lean into that revival, not apologize for it.
At the same time, the administration’s moves in the Caribbean and the talk of stepping up to land-based pressure on cartel networks — and even pushing Venezuelan strongmen who profit from trafficking — have provoked predictable howls from the Washington establishment about legality and escalation. Let the critics squawk: for too long hollow legalism and weak coast guard patrols have cost American lives, and strong options to defend our borders and citizens must be on the table.
Jocko also fired back at the cultural mockery coming from the left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent jabs about “masculinity” that treat men striving to be providers and protectors as punchlines. Conservatives should not cede the language of character and strength to the left; instead we should celebrate the good men who build families, enlist in service, and stand between danger and our neighborhoods.
This moment calls for courage and clarity: back leaders who will take the fight to the cartels, honor the men and women who defend America, and reassert the virtues that make our country strong. Jocko’s voice is a reminder that discipline, leadership, and a willingness to act are the antidote to chaos — and patriots of every age should stand with President Trump as he restores law, order, and common-sense strength to our national security.
