Washington — On Sunday, President Trump addressed recent reports regarding a second strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat earlier this year. He indicated that he would not have supported such an action, while also committing to investigate the matter that has raised significant concerns among lawmakers.
During a press briefing on Air Force One, Trump remarked, "The first strike was very lethal, it was fine, and if there were two people around," referring to the initial offensive. However, he noted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that no subsequent strike occurred. "I have great confidence in him," Trump added, conveying his support for the defense secretary amidst the controversy.
The Washington Post reported on Friday that Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order to ensure no survivors remained after the first U.S. strike on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean in September. According to the report, the initial strike left two individuals in the water, and a commander ordered a second strike in compliance with Hegseth's directive, resulting in the deaths of the survivors. Hegseth has since labeled the report as "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory," asserting that the operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law.
As the situation unfolds, concern has mounted among lawmakers and legal experts. A group of former military lawyers expressed in an assessment on Saturday that the reported second strike would likely violate international or domestic law. In a show of bipartisan concern, the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have pledged to investigate the reported follow-on strike.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia stated on "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan that if the reported follow-on strike is accurate, it could constitute a war crime. Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio concurred, emphasizing that it would be deemed an illegal act if true.
President Trump defended Hegseth on Sunday, reiterating multiple times that the defense secretary denied giving the reported order. "I don't know that that happened, and Pete said he did not want them; he didn't even know what people were talking about," Trump explained. The president assured reporters, "I'm going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men."
These developments come amidst a backdrop of increased U.S. military activity, with nearly two dozen boat strikes executed in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean since the first strike on September 2. When asked by CBS News about his concerns regarding the boat strikes in general, Trump replied, "Very little, because you can see the boats, you can see the drugs in the boats, and each boat is responsible for killing 25,000 Americans." He added that the volume of drugs entering the country by sea has drastically decreased compared to previous months.