An ex-Homeland Security official under Donald Trump’s first term sounded off on Tuesday over the president’s controversial boat strike campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

“I think that they feel like they can attack these boats and it sends some sort of message of deterrence against anyone who would cross Trump, not just drug dealers but any other threats he might face,” said Taylor, who has become a target of the president’s second-term revenge tour.

“But I’ll tell you this, Nicolle — even some of the president’s own close allies are now breaking with him over this.”

Taylor noted that far-right conspiracy theorist and longtime Trump ally Laura Loomer recently pointed out on social media that the majority of drugs coming out of Venezuela aren’t fentanyl.

Trump, in a speech last month, claimed that the vessels targeted in the strikes mostly carried fentanyl. However, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, much of the fentanyl trafficked into the country comes from Mexico and is produced with precursor chemicals and equipment from China.

“So he’s not even selling his own supporters on this,” said Taylor, who argued that the “real purpose” of the strikes is to strengthen the president’s power.

Taylor warned that the strikes could serve as a “prelude” to a U.S. ground invasion in Venezuela, a move that the president didn’t rule out on Tuesday.

“But if that’s the case, even then, the administration has done a terrible job explaining that story to the American people and explaining why it matters,” Taylor continued.

“So all of this seems to be falling apart. ... To me, it seems like the walls are closing in on Donald Trump on this issue.”