Trump's mental health questioned after he claims 300 million people died last year

President Donald Trump is raising eyebrows once again after making a bizarre statement during a Sunday press conference. Trump claimed that 300 million Americans died last year from drugs a figure that defies logic, considering the U.S. population is only about 340 million.

The strange claim came after Trump was asked whether a recent U.S. military strike against a Venezuelan vessel allegedly transporting drugs was legal or risked escalating tensions. Instead of addressing the legality of the strike, Trump replied:

“What’s illegal are the drugs that were on the boat and the drugs being sent into our country, and the fact that 300 million people died last year from drugs, that’s what’s illegal.”

According to the CDC, the actual number of U.S. drug overdose deaths last year was around 80,400 far from Trump’s 300 million claim, and even showing a 27% decrease compared to 2023’s 110,000 overdose deaths.

Why Trump’s Claim Is Being Questioned

The U.S. has never seen deaths anywhere near the level Trump suggested.

Even worldwide, annual deaths total around 60 million across all causes, not just drugs.

Critics on social media quickly mocked the statement, with one user posting, “300 million? So basically everyone in America died last year?”

Trump’s Drug War Narrative

Throughout his return to office, Trump has focused heavily on the flow of narcotics, particularly fentanyl, as a justification for sweeping executive actions. He previously declared a national emergency to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing border failures that he claims fuel America’s drug crisis.

However, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data shows fentanyl entering through the northern border is almost negligible (about one-tenth of 1%). While trafficking across the southern border remains significant, experts argue that decades of the “War on Drugs” costing the U.S. over $1 trillion since the 1970s have done little to curb actual drug use.

The Bigger Picture

Many policy experts emphasize that criminalizing drugs has not reduced consumption. Instead, they argue that treatment, prevention, and public health strategies are more effective than military-style crackdowns.

Still, Trump continues to frame drugs as a national security threat and now, with his exaggerated claims, he’s inviting renewed questions about his mental sharpness and the accuracy of his public statements.