TRUMP ON DRUG WAR: ‘WE’RE GOING TO BE RUTHLESS … WE HAVE NO CHOICE’

[2/10/17] Speaking before a prominent group of police chiefs and sheriffs from across the nation, President Donald Trump said his administration will fight a “ruthless” war against illegal drugs and assist state and local officials in stopping gang members, “many of whom are not even legally in our country.”

“I’ve been here two weeks,” President Trump said of his administration before a gathering of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8. “I’ve met a lot of law enforcement officials.”

“Yesterday, I brought them into the Oval Office,” he said. “I asked a group, what impact do drugs have in terms of a percentage on crime? They said, 75 to 80 percent. That’s pretty sad.”

“We’re going to stop the drugs from pouring in,” said the president. “We’re going to stop those drugs from poisoning our youth, from poisoning our people. We’re going to be ruthless in that fight. We have no choice.”

As for the drug cartels that have operatives throughout the United States, President Trump said “we’re going to take that fight to the drug cartels and work to liberate our communities from their terrible grip of violence. You have the power and knowledge to tell General [John] Kelly — now Secretary Kelly — who the illegal immigrant gang members are.”