U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will sign an executive order classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” as part of his ongoing campaign against drug smuggling.
Speaking at the White House on Monday during a ceremony presenting medals to U.S. troops who have patrolled the Mexico–U.S. border, Trump said, “With this historic executive order I will sign today, we are formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, which is what it is.”
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is highly potent and can be lethal in extremely small doses. While it has legitimate medical uses for pain management, illicit fentanyl has been a major driver of the U.S. overdose crisis, claiming nearly 330,000 American lives over the five years ending in April 2025.
The classification could lead to stiffer criminal charges for those involved in trafficking fentanyl, though Trump did not specify immediate legal changes.
Earlier in October, Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who agreed to take steps to limit the illegal export of fentanyl from China, which is the primary source of illicit fentanyl entering the U.S. This followed similar commitments made during Trump’s first term and by the previous president, Joe Biden.
The move reflects growing concern in the U.S. about fentanyl’s impact on public health and national security, framing the crisis as both a law enforcement and a strategic threat.
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