The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode: FAFO! U.S. Hits Venezuelan Drug Vessel in Trump’s First Major Strike
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)
Key Guests/Voices: Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Jesse Waters, Jim Hansen
Episode Overview
This episode delivers an in-depth analysis of President Donald Trump’s first major military action in his current term: the U.S. military’s precision strike on a Venezuelan drug smuggling vessel. Host Ben Ferguson covers the details of the operation, Trump's public statements, the reaction from international leaders, and broader implications for U.S. anti-drug trafficking policy. The focus is on security, U.S. resolve, and escalating action against narco-terrorism, emphasizing the President's direct leadership style.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Strike on the Venezuelan Drug Vessel
[03:24 - 06:17]
- President Trump ordered a targeted military strike against a drug-laden panga boat in international waters.
- All 11 "Trenda Agra" (sic – likely “Tren de Aragua”) narco-terrorists aboard were killed.
- The operation is presented as a warning: traffickers bringing drugs to the U.S. "will face swift and lethal consequences."
- Ben underscores that the traffickers "had no idea it was even happening," contrasting the Trump administration’s aggressiveness with alleged laxity under Biden.
- Trump’s quote on Truth Social:
“Earlier this morning, on my orders, US Military forces conducted a kinetic strike against a positively identified trend narco terrorist in the Southcom area of responsibility… transporting illegal narcotics heading to the United States.”
Key Moment
- [05:20] Donald Trump:
“When you come out and when you leave the room, you'll see that we just... shot out a, a boat, a drug carrying boat, a lot of drugs in that boat... There's more where that came from... A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela. So we took it out. And you'll get to see that after this meeting is over.”
2. Message to Traffickers and the Public
[06:17 - 08:44]
- Footage of the strike, posted by the President, underscores a "global message":
“If you're bringing drugs in the United States of America to kill our citizens, we're going to hunt you down and we're going to kill you.”
- No U.S. forces were harmed.
- U.S. intelligence (Pentagon & CIA) actively monitoring other narco targets; more military actions may follow.
- Discussion of international responses:
- Mexico's President calls for respect for sovereignty, denies threat.
- Venezuela’s leader is angry (against backdrop of a $50 million U.S. bounty for his arrest).
Notable Quote
- [06:17] Ben Ferguson:
“Please let this serve as a notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America, beware.”
3. Administration Perspective—Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
[08:12 - 08:44]
- Marco Rubio emphasizes robust offensive U.S. posture:
“The President has been very clear that he's going to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States to take on and eradicate these drug cartels... Those days are over.”
4. Analysis & Broader Consequences—Jesse Waters & Jim Hansen
[09:03 - 11:24]
- Discussion on Fox News (Jesse Waters interviewing Jim Hansen, World Straight President):
- U.S. could soon strike cartel targets inside Venezuela; “nothing’s off the table.”
- Message to both cartels and state sponsors: U.S. military might will not be challenged.
- Hansen on potential escalation:
“...you're not going to put up with them making billions of dollars doing human trafficking and killing our own citizens without a very robust response.”
- Waters questions popular support and risk of cartel retaliation.
- Hansen asserts overwhelming public backing:
“The American people are sick of seeing these drug traffickers and these cartels destroying our country with no consequences.”
- Asymmetric warfare risk is acknowledged, but U.S. retaliation would be severe:
“Payback can be a medevac. ...You go ahead and hit us here and you want to see some holding holy hell unleashed…”
- Hansen asserts overwhelming public backing:
5. Why Not More Allied Support? Trump on Mexico’s Role
[11:24 - 12:06]
-
Trump referenced his conversations with Mexico’s president:
“Mexico wanted help with the cartels. We would be honored to go in and do it. ...The cartels are trying to destroy, destroy our country. They're evil. Well, she's so afraid of the cartel, she can't walk... she is so afraid... she can't even think straight.”
-
Ben explains that U.S. unilateral action is necessary due to lack of regional support.
6. Closing Remarks & Outlook
[12:06 - End]
- Ben summarizes that this strike is “not the end, but probably the beginning of President Trump's war on drugs,” now “with the American military behind it.”
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- Donald Trump [05:20]:
“A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela. So we took it out.”
- Ben Ferguson [06:17]:
“...[T]his is the President putting his words into action, making it clear that the President is not going to let this stand.”
- Marco Rubio [08:12]:
“The President is going to be on offense... Those days are over.”
- Jim Hansen [09:09]:
“This is a message to the cartels and to state leaders who coddle them... that's no longer a free ride to make money bringing death into the United States.”
- Jim Hansen [11:02]:
“Payback can be a medevac. ...I don't think they do it more than once.”
- Donald Trump [11:42]:
“...she's so afraid of the cartel, she can't walk... she can't even think straight.”
Tone & Style
- The episode maintains Ben Ferguson’s direct, assertive, and pro-Trump style, interspersed with quotes from the President and hardline commentary from officials and analysts.
- Frequent emphasis on U.S. strength, decisive action, and frustration with past (Biden) and current international inaction.
- Moments of bravado and warning are prevalent: “beware,” “there's more where that came from,” “those days are over.”
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:24 — Ben breaks down the operation’s details and significance.
- 05:20 — Trump’s Oval Office remarks about the strike.
- 06:17 — Ben analyzes the purpose behind publicizing the strike.
- 08:12 — Marco Rubio describes the Administration’s strategy.
- 09:03 — Jesse Waters and Jim Hansen discuss escalation and U.S. strategy.
- 11:42 — Trump’s remarks on Mexico’s president and the challenge of allied cooperation.
- 12:06 — Final commentary on broader implications and future actions.
This episode provides an unfiltered look at the Trump administration’s tough stance on drug trafficking, delivering both details and rhetoric designed to signal a new era of enforcement using direct military power. The show’s narrative is clear: military action is the new face of the U.S. “war on drugs,” with uncompromising resolve at the highest level.