Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Mon 29 Sep 2025 06.00 EDT
Last modified on Mon 29 Sep 2025 06.01 EDT


Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has played a leading role in directing US strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug boats, according to three people familiar with the situation. At times, his role has superseded that of Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and national security adviser.

The strikes on the Venezuelan boats allegedly carrying narcotics, which the administration has claimed were necessary because interdiction did not work, have been orchestrated through the homeland security council (HSC), which Miller leads as the homeland security adviser.

Miller empowered the HSC earlier this year to become its own entity in Donald Trump’s second term, a notable departure from previous administrations where it was considered part of the national security council and ultimately reported to the national security adviser.

As a result, the HSC has taken the lead on engaging the Venezuelan boats, the people said, a situation evidenced by his top deputy, Tony Salisbury, and others being the gatekeepers to details about what boat to strike until they are about to occur.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/29/stephen-miller-venezuela-drug-boat-strike

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The Shadow President

is NOT protected by SCOTUS's Immunity Decision.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. He's counting on a blanket pardon from Trump before he's 25th Amendmented

I reckon Vance wouldn't give him one, because that would be a very convenient way for Vance to eliminate a rival.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

20. A blanket pardon

Won’t protect from “crimes against humanity” charges or the multitudes of enemies he’s made.

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Wouldn't it be luvverly if an incoming Democratic president and Congress signed up to the ICC

so that it could prosecute crimes against humanity that the ridiculous US presidential pardon prevents?

But I'm not holding my breath. More likely, it'd just stop Miller visiting civilised countries, and restrict him to Russia, China, North Korea etc. Which are probably the only places he wants to go anyway.

[Javaman]

2. "Miller exposed as leader in strikes on Venezuelan drug boats". There, title fixed. nt

[Dulcinea]

3. This Nazi ghoul probably gets off on it. nt

[Irish_Dem]

4. He loves killing people. All legal.

Serial killer hired by US taxpayers.

[ChicagoTeamster]

5. Who is actually giving the US Navy commands to fire on the boats? Miller's position can't have that kind of authority

Doesn't a command like that have to follow a chain along the lines of someone in the Joint Chiefs to a Navy or Coast Guard admiral to the ship commander? Supposedly, the crews on these ships were asking their commanders for some kind of immunity from prosecution because they're not convinced of the legality of the orders.

[Lonestarblue]

10. Most likely, Miller orders Hegseth to issue the orders. No proof of drug smuggling needed.

Venezuela isn’t even the biggest source of illegal drugs coming into the US. The majority come through Mexico. Perhaps Trump is making a case to declare war on Venezuela and take over their oil and gas resources.

[ChicagoTeamster]

13. SecDef should only take orders from President. Miller didn't undergo Congressional approval hearings.

That means Trump probably isn't even consulted, just advised during or after. So, he's not even running anything, just acting like it's his plan when he vomits word salads or signs executive orders.

[Blackjackdavey]

16. my guess is,

they don't necessarily need to take over the oil. I'm assuming they are simply trying to destabilize the oil market and drive up prices because their drill baby drill isn't working out according to plan as the oil supply surplus make it cost ineffective. It's about oil, but not to take, just to make the price per barrel increase. And this plan is so far also not working as each provocation simply seems to cause OPEC nations to just release more oil.

[Buns_of_Fire]

6. When this finally ends, and Miller has been sentenced in Nuremberg II,

he's the one I most expect to take the Hermann Goering route to avoid execution -- a cyanide capsule.

[orangecrush]

7. He did the same type shit last time

And was never held accountable.

[Marthe48]

8. Put him on a boat

and sink it.

The leading role I'd like to see him in.

[IronLionZion]

9. Matador loves blood and gore

dude gets off on pain and punishment

[sop]

11. This is all about creating an incident, finding a pretext for an invasion of Venezuela and overthrowing Maduro.

ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips had their investments in Venezuela nationalized in 2007 by the Venezuelan government. Big Oil is behind this.

[Bayard]

18. I can see that

Follow the money. Business as usual. Forget the subtlety of an Economic Hit Man.

[Texin]

14. Well, presumably, Miller doesn't enjoy a "Get Out of Jail Free" immunity shield as does his orange

master, and perhaps he can be prosecuted at some point.

[sop]

15. Pardons will be issued to everyone on the way out the door.

[Mysterian]

17. Miller will sit in the dock of the war crimes trials

when the rule of law is re-established in the USA.

[drmeow]

19. When we take back this country

this demon spawn needs to be turned over to the ICC for trial.

[Turbineguy]

21. Great! When the time comes

we can extradite that POS to Venezuela for trial.

[amcgrath]

23. No surprise there.

He is a deviant. His involvement would be expected, it may not be his department but wherever there is cruelty or death, Miller will be drawn to it. It excites him.

[louis-t]

24. Little Nazi Stephen, sexual dynamo.

Getting his rocks off killing people. Who cares if we don't know whether they are actually drug dealers on the boat, "this is fun" says Steverino.