A Trump administration initiative to stop drug smugglers moving narcotics from South and Central America into the United States resulted in more than $1 billion worth of drugs seized in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced Tuesday that Coast Guard and Navy ships deployed 1,500 miles south of the U.S. since April have stopped more than 94,000 pounds of cocaine and 9,200 pounds of marijuana from smugglers attempting to run the loads from South America through Central America and Mexico. Cocaine seizures were up 8% compared to the same time last year.

On April 1, President Trump announced a stepped-up effort by federal agencies to go after drug smugglers moving cocaine, which is largely grown in Colombia, to the U.S. The U.S. works with governments in partner countries to maintain a presence in international waters and to make seizures when intelligence gatherers notify ships of suspicious boaters.

“The fact that all of this was done in the span of two months within the COVID-19 environment is nothing short of remarkable,” Wolf said during a press conference at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tuesday morning. “As DHS continues to support the federal response to COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve also kept our eye on our traditional adversaries, including the persistent threat posed by transnational criminal organizations.” (Read more from “Trump Initiative Seized $1B Worth of Drugs at Sea Amid Pandemic” HERE)

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President Trump said Wednesday he “will not even consider” renaming Army bases that were named for Confederate military leaders after top Pentagon officials indicated recently they are open to the idea.

In a series of tweets, Trump argued the bases have become part of U.S. history and should not be “tampered with.”

“These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,” he tweeted, adding that “HEROES” who won two world wars were trained on the “Hallowed Grounds” of the bases. . .

…Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2020

Minutes after Trump posted his comments, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany began Wednesday’s briefing by distributing them to reporters and reading them in their entirety from the podium.

“That was directly from the president. We spent some time working on that, and I wanted to deliver that to you,” she said. (Read more from “Trump ‘Will Not Even Consider’ Renaming Army Bases” HERE)

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President Trump plans to hit the road in the next two weeks to resume his “Make America Great Again” campaign rallies despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Politico reported Monday that the president’s advisers are still determining where the rallies will take place and what safety measures will be implemented to protect the public amid the pandemic. Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale is expected to provide Trump with options this week.

“Americans are ready to get back to action and so is President Trump,” Parscale said in a statement. “The great American comeback is real and the rallies will be tremendous. You’ll again see the kind of crowds and enthusiasm that sleepy Joe Biden can only dream of.” (Read more from “Trump to Resume ‘Make America Great Again’ Campaign Rallies This Month” HERE)

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