Former President Donald Trump said during an interview this week that airstrikes against Mexican drug cartels are “absolutely” on the table if Mexico does not rapidly put an end to the fentanyl pouring into the U.S.

Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters broadcast on Tuesday after being asked if he would still follow through on the idea pushed by Republicans during the presidential primaries.

“Absolutely,” Trump said. “Mexico is going to have to straighten it out really fast or the answer is, absolutely. They’re killing 300,000 people a year with fentanyl coming in.”

The former president highlighted China’s role in the fentanyl epidemic, saying that all of the precursors to make the drug come to Mexico directly from Chinese manufacturers.

“And China, by the way, will do what they have to do,” he said. “They’re gonna do it just like I had to deal with President Xi. But then Biden never took it over, that we’re gonna give the death penalty to anybody sending fentanyl our way. And that was part of my negotiation. They never did it because nobody forced it on our side.”

“Death penalty for drug dealers, death penalty for people that send fentanyl into our country,” he continued. “And that would have made a big difference. But you know what happened? Nothing because when Biden came in, nothing happened. And I don’t know why he’s so soft on China, but boy is soft on China.”

He added that Mexico will be given “a very short period of time” to control the situation, or they will face consequences from the U.S.

WATCH:

WATTERS: Are strikes against the cartels still on the table?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Absolutely. pic.twitter.com/3rywIej7FC

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) July 24, 2024