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I’m a sub zealot and a former “worker bee” at a defense contractor during the Reagan and Bush years. I worked on submarine-launched missile projects, following instructions under strict security measures to protect our work from adversaries. That experience gave me a front-row seat to the power of our submarines. Over the years, I’ve also learned about the unmatched capabilities of our Navy SEALs. As President, I would use that knowledge to tackle the fentanyl crisis head-on. The fentanyl crisis kills over 70,000 Americans a year, and I’m done with half-measures. Here’s how I would deal with the Houthis, China, Canada, Mexico, and Iran to stop this scourge, using the full might of our submarines and Navy SEALs.

The Fentanyl Crisis: A War on America

Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction; just 2 milligrams can kill a person. In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to represent 6 billion lethal doses. This isn’t merely a drug problem—it’s a war. China, the primary source of fentanyl precursors, ships them to Mexican cartels, which produce the drug and smuggle it into the U.S., often through Canada. The Houthis, backed by Iran, exacerbate the chaos by attacking Red Sea shipping, driving up costs and distracting us from the fentanyl fight. Iran also supports China economically by buying their oil and enabling their fentanyl networks. Canada and Mexico, our neighbors, are complicit, serving as transshipment hubs and production centers. I won’t stand for it. As President, I would take decisive action against all five players, using the submarine and SEAL tactics I’ve studied for decades.

Step 1: Crush the Houthis with Submarine-Launched Missiles and a Strategic Delay

The Houthis, Iran’s proxy in Yemen, are a thorn in our side, attacking ships in the Red Sea and disrupting global trade. On March 20, 2025, the U.S. launched large-scale strikes against them, killing at least 31 people, but they used surface ships—a missed opportunity.

The Ohio-class submarine fleet of the United States Navy currently consists of 18 boats. This includes 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and 4 guided missile submarines (SSGNs). The SSBNs are designed to carry Trident II D5 ballistic missiles, while the SSGNs, which were converted from the original SSBN configuration, are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and support special operations forces. As President, I would handle it differently, using our Ohio-class submarines, each capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk missiles. I would deploy two submarines with a strategic delay to maximize the number of Houthis killed: one positioned within 50 miles of the Yemeni coast and the other at 1,000 miles.

Here’s how it would work: the first submarine, at 50 miles, would launch 154 Tomahawks, targeting Houthi missile and drone sites along the coast. Tomahawks travel at 550 mph, so from 50 miles, they would hit their targets in about 5 minutes, catching the Houthis off guard and forcing them to scramble—likely drawing more fighters to the sites to respond. Then, I would delay the second submarine’s strike. At 1,000 miles, its 154 Tomahawks would take about 109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes) to reach the targets. This delay would give the Houthis time to gather at the damaged sites, increasing their numbers in the strike zone. The second wave would then hit, killing more Houthis and ensuring their ability to attack shipping is crippled. Together, the two submarines would deliver 308 Tomahawks, devastating their operations and ensuring safe passage through the Red Sea, freeing up our resources to focus on fentanyl.

Why submarines? They’re stealthy, untraceable, and send a message of overwhelming power—capabilities I witnessed firsthand during my time at the defense contractor. The Houthis caused a 75% drop in Suez Canal traffic in 2024, adding 7–14 days to transit times. By neutralizing them with this tactic, I would stabilize global trade and redirect our focus to the real war: fentanyl.

Step 2: Sink Ships in Iran’s Ports with SEALs Using Wet Submersibles, Then Strike Their Oilfields to Harm China Economically

China is at war with us through fentanyl precursor shipments, and I don’t care how Xi reacts—he’s already our enemy. One word: fentanyl. China is Iran’s largest oil buyer, importing 13% of its oil from Iran in 2024, often rebranded to bypass U.S. sanctions. Iran also facilitates China’s fentanyl networks by providing economic support and maritime routes through the Persian Gulf. As President, I would hit Iran hard to cut off this support, harming China economically and punishing them for their role in the fentanyl crisis—first by sinking ships in their ports using SEALs deployed via wet submersibles, then by striking their oilfields with Ohio-class submarines.

First, I would deploy Navy SEALs to sink ships in Iran’s ports, targeting vessels carrying oil to China or fentanyl precursors through the Persian Gulf. Ports like Bandar Abbas and Bushehr are key hubs for Iran’s maritime trade. Since Ohio-class submarines are not equipped to deploy “wet” submersibles like the Mark VIII SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), I would pair them with Virginia-class or Los Angeles-class attack submarines, which can carry wet deck shelters compatible with SDVs. These attack submarines would position themselves within 7–9 miles of Iran’s ports, ensuring the Mark VIII SDVs can complete a round trip within their operational range of 15–18 miles at 5 knots. The SEALs would use the SDVs to approach the ports covertly, plant limpet mines on 3–5 ships per port in a single night, using 1–2 mines per ship (5–10 kg of C4), and return safely to the host submarines. Sinking these ships would disrupt Iran’s oil exports to China and block any fentanyl precursor shipments transiting through their waters, creating chaos and drawing Iran’s attention to their ports.

Then, with Iran distracted and their maritime trade in disarray, I would deploy 2–3 Ohio-class submarines, positioned 50–100 miles offshore, to launch 308–462 Tomahawks, targeting Iran’s major oilfields, such as Ahvaz and Gachsaran. This would slash Iran’s oil production, which funds their terrorism through proxies like the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas. It would also spike global oil prices—perhaps by $10–$20 per barrel, based on the 2019 Saudi Aramco attack—but the world doesn’t need Iran’s oil. The International Energy Agency predicts a “sizeable surplus” in 2025, with U.S. production at a record 13.49 million barrels per day. During Trump’s first term, he cut off Iran’s oil exports, and prices stayed low—$56.99 per barrel in 2019. We can handle this.

By sinking ships in Iran’s ports first and then hitting their oilfields, I would deliver a double blow to China, punishing them for fentanyl and pressuring Xi to crack down on precursor production to avoid further escalation.

Step 3: Sink Fentanyl Ships Across the Americas with SEALs

China ships fentanyl precursors to the Americas—the “New World”—where Mexican cartels produce the drug and smuggle it into the U.S., often through Canada. I’ve planned this carefully: as President, I would tag fentanyl ships in China using our intelligence assets and then sink them at their berths in any port across the Americas. This would eliminate fentanyl trafficking in the New World, force China to divert ships to Asia and Europe, and punish Canada and Mexico for their complicity.

Here’s how I would execute it: U.S. intelligence would tag fentanyl ships leaving Chinese ports like Shanghai, using GPS trackers and satellite surveillance. We would track them to ports in the Americas—Vancouver and Prince Rupert in Canada, Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico, Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala, Santos in Brazil, and beyond. Then, I would deploy Navy SEALs, inserted by Virginia-class or Los Angeles-class submarines equipped with wet deck shelters and Mark VIII SDVs. The submarines would position themselves within 7–9 miles of the target ports, allowing the SEALs to use the SDVs for a round trip within the SDVs’ 15–18-mile range. The SEALs would approach covertly, plant limpet mines on 3–5 ships per port in a single night, using 1–2 mines per ship (5–10 kg of C4), and return safely to the host submarines. I would order strikes on multiple ports simultaneously, ensuring no fentanyl ship is safe in the Americas.

Sinking these ships would destroy precursor shipments, disrupt the supply chain, and clog ports, delaying legitimate trade and increasing costs for traffickers. It would also punish Canada and Mexico for their roles—Canada as a transshipment hub and Mexico as the production center where 90% of fentanyl seizures occur. The economic fallout would pressure both nations to crack down on fentanyl trafficking while sending a message to Central and South American countries: get serious, or face the same consequences.

Step 4: Force China to Divert Fentanyl Ships

By making the Americas a no-go zone for fentanyl ships, I would force China to divert its trafficking to Asia and Europe. Established drug routes through Central Asia and the Balkans can handle this shift, but it would increase costs and risks for Chinese networks—European ports like Rotterdam have stricter customs enforcement. This would reduce fentanyl in the New World, saving American lives, though it may spread the crisis to other regions. That’s their problem; my priority is the Americas.

Why Submarines and SEALs?

During my time at the defense contractor, I saw the power of our submarines up close, and over the years, I’ve learned about the capabilities of our SEALs. Submarines are stealthy, untraceable, and can strike with precision—perfect for taking out Iran’s oilfields and inserting SEALs to sink ships in Iran’s ports and across the Americas. SEALs are the best in the world at maritime sabotage, capable of planting mines and disappearing without a trace. The U.S. military missed a chance to use them against the Houthis on March 20, 2025, opting for surface ships instead. As President, I would not make that mistake.

The Bigger Picture

This multi-pronged strategy—crushing the Houthis with a strategic delay, sinking ships in Iran’s ports and then striking their oilfields, and sinking fentanyl ships across the Americas—would tackle the fentanyl crisis head-on. I would neutralize Iran’s proxy, the Houthis, ensuring we can focus on the drug war. I would harm China economically by targeting Iran, punishing them for fentanyl, and pressuring Xi to act. Additionally, I would eliminate fentanyl trafficking in the New World while punishing Canada and Mexico for their complicity. The U.S. has the power to do this—13 Ohio-class submarines, each with 154 Tomahawks, paired with attack submarines carrying the best SEALs in the world. I saw these capabilities in action, and as President, I would use them to protect our people.

Some will cry about diplomacy, but I don’t care. Canada and Mexico need to step up. China is already at war with us, Iran is a terrorist state, and the Houthis are terrorists. The fentanyl crisis is killing Americans, and I would stop it—whatever it takes.

The Impact of Sinking Ships at Their Berths

Sinking ships at their berths in Iran’s ports and across the Americas would not only disrupt fentanyl trafficking and oil exports but also clog these ports, creating significant logistical and economic challenges. When ships are sunk in navigable channels or at berths, they become wrecks that block access for other vessels, halting port operations. Removing these wrecks is a complex, costly, and time-consuming process. For a medium-sized cargo ship, wreck removal can cost between $5 million and $20 million, depending on the ship’s size, the depth of the water, and environmental factors like potential oil spills or hazardous cargo (e.g., fentanyl precursors). The process typically takes 6–12 months per ship, involving specialized salvage teams, heavy equipment, and environmental mitigation to prevent further damage. With 3–5 ships sunk per port, the cumulative cost and downtime would cripple port operations, amplifying the economic pressure on Iran, Canada, Mexico, and other complicit nations to crack down on fentanyl trafficking.