White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is defending the Trump administration’s handling of recent strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats, accusing Democrats of trying to undermine efforts to combat the cartels.
“It speaks to the depravity of the Democrat Party that they have stooped so low, they are attacking our military leadership,” Leavitt said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends.”
“They are attacking the brave men and women who have conducted these strikes well within the law, following the orders from their commander-in-chief,” she added.
Her comments come as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth prepares to brief a small group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the situation with Venezuela. Democratic leaders have been openly critical of the White House’s strikes on alleged narco-terrorists, with several calling them “war crimes.”
But Leavitt argues the Trump administration ran on taking tough action against drug smugglers and was elected by the American people.
“In 2024, the GOP platform at the Republican Party Convention, written by President Trump and his team, stated that we are going to quote, ‘Demolish foreign drug cartels.’ President Trump campaigned on this. He is delivering on it,” she said.
There have been at least 22 strikes on suspected drug boats that have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. A September strike drew intense pushback after the military launched a second strike that targeted survivors of the first.
“We need to know what information Hegseth had before ordering the execution of everyone on that boat and if those onboard were properly identified. But the bigger question remains: Does it make Americans any safer to kill people without due process? I don’t believe it does,” Sen. Mark Kelly wrote on X.
Hegseth is expected to brief the Gang of Eight Tuesday, along with other top Cabinet officials.
“Every time President Trump and Secretary Hegseth and the White House are criticized for blowing up drug boats, we are thinking about Americans like Anne Fundner, who lost her 15-year-old son Weston to a drug overdose,” Leavitt said.
“I think it’s great President Trump is finally paying attention to it and taking strong action.”
Money talks. It says, “Bend over.” The persistence of Benga, now renamed Northback, an Australian mining company owned by mogul Gina Rinehart is testament to…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-man-in-front-of-a-waterfall-in-quebec-right-montmorency-falls-quebec.jpg?id=61546610&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=97%2C0%2C98%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>No matter the season, Montrealers love making the short trip to Quebec City. Some go for the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canadian-cities-european-travel" target="_blank">cobblestone streets and European-style architecture</a>, others for the food and festivals. But just outside the city centre sits one of the province's most jaw-dropping natural wonders: <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/" target="_blank">Parc de la Chute-Montmorency.</a></p><p>Only a few minutes from <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canadas-most-beautiful-city-3-hours-from-montreal" target="_blank">Old Quebec</a>, Montmorency Falls towers at a whopping 83 metres (272 feet) tall. For those counting, that's about 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls, making the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/breathtaking-natural-wonders-in-quebec" target="_blank">Fleuve Saint-Laurent spectacle</a> the highest waterfall in Quebec. On a national scale, it also ranks as the eighth-tallest waterfall in all of Canada.</p><p>Here are a few reasons why it's worth checking out for yourself. </p><h3>Epic views in every direction</h3><p>What makes Montmorency Falls special is how many different ways you can experience it. At the top, a suspension bridge stretches across the falls, giving you a stomach-dropping look straight over the edge. A gondola also glides along the cliffside for a smoother ride, while wooden staircases wind all the way down to the base, where you can feel the mist on your face.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFsbUN_REBp/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFsbUN_REBp/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>But for those craving something a little more extreme, there is even a zipline that cuts right across the front of the falls. It may not be for everyone, but if you're willing to try it, the view is pretty unforgettable.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNv7I-q0glM/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNv7I-q0glM/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><h3>A waterfall worth visiting year-round</h3><p>Montmorency is one of those places that always looks different depending on the season. During fall, the cliffs light up with red and orange leaves, turning the whole area into a scene straight out of a postcard. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBmgJyZvCeJ/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBmgJyZvCeJ/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Meanwhile, winter brings out the famous "Sugarloaf," a massive frozen mound at the base of the falls that ice climbers actually scale. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyK5RHHuHd/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyK5RHHuHd/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Spring is when the cascade is at its most powerful, fueled by snowmelt rushing down the cliffs. Summer, of course, is the most popular time to explore the trails, gondola, and bridges.</p><h3>More than just scenery</h3><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBW7OStxt_G/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBW7OStxt_G/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>The site also comes with a bit of history. The Battle of Montmorency took place here in 1759, during the Seven Years' War between French and British forces. Today, it's hard to imagine that kind of chaos in such a peaceful setting. Instead of cannon fire and bayonets, you'll hear the roar of the falls and the chatter of tourists. But if you take time to walk around the park, you'll spot plaques and signs explaining the site's role in Quebec's military history. </p><h3>Other spots nearby</h3><p>Montmorency Falls can fill up a good chunk of your day, but if you're already in the area, you can easily add a side trip to Île d'Orléans. The island is just across the bridge and is known for its farms, cider houses, and strawberry stands. Many visitors end their day there by picking up fresh produce, popping into museums, or sampling local spirits before heading back to the city.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLNtKospfeI/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;">
<div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">
</div>
</div>
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLNtKospfeI/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
</p>
</div>
</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <p>Plus, Quebec City, recently <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canadas-most-beautiful-city-3-hours-from-montreal" target="_blank">ranked the most beautiful city in Canada by Narcity readers</a>, is right around the corner. </p><h3>If you go</h3><ul> <li> <strong>Where</strong>: 15 minutes from Old Quebec, about 3 hours from Montreal by car</li> <li> <strong>Getting there</strong>: Parking is available on-site, and city buses connect to the park</li> <li> <strong>Cost</strong>: Access to outdoor areas is between $4 and $9 per person (gondola and zipline tickets cost extra)</li> <li> <strong>Best time</strong>: Each season has its charm, but fall colours and spring runoff are especially striking</li></ul><div>For more information on the falls, you can check out the official <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/" target="_blank">SEPAQ website</a>. </div>