Donald Trump addressed reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, defending Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth amid allegations that he ordered a second strike on a Caribbean boat. Trump stated that he believes Hegseth's assertion “100%” that he did not authorize the second strike, which reportedly targeted survivors from an initial military action. “I’m going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men,” Trump added. When pressed about whether he would have supported a follow-up strike, the president remarked, “We’ll look into it, but no, I wouldn’t have wanted that – not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal.”
The Washington Post reported that Hegseth allegedly directed that “kill everybody” on board during a military operation in September. Following the first strike, which left two men alive, a special operations commander purportedly ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth's directive. Hegseth has vehemently denied these claims, labeling them as “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory.” He further emphasized that the U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean were “lawful under both U.S. and international law.”
In light of these events, Venezuela's National Assembly has publicly accused the United States of committing “murder” through these military strikes. This is one of the first official acknowledgments from Venezuelan authorities regarding the targeting of their citizens. Jorge Rodriguez, the Assembly president, stated, “There’s no declared war between the U.S. and Venezuela; therefore, this cannot be classified as anything but murder.” He further asserted that “every human being has the right to due process,” condemning the brutal nature of the strikes.
Responses from Democratic lawmakers have been swift and critical. Senator Mark Kelly announced plans for a public hearing where individuals involved would be placed under oath to ensure accountability. He expressed serious concerns about potential overreach within the chain of command. Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the situation could warrant investigations into possible war crimes.
Since September, the United States has significantly increased its naval presence in the Caribbean, conducting strikes against vessels it claims are involved in drug smuggling off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. According to the U.S. Defense Department, over 80 individuals have reportedly been killed during these operations. The U.S. government contends that these strikes are justified under the principle of self-defense, a legal rationale for military action according to international law. However, the administration has provided limited evidence to support claims of illegal activities by the targeted boats, and it has refrained from disclosing the identities of those killed during these strikes.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, has stated that there is “strong evidence” suggesting that these strikes may constitute extrajudicial killings, urging Congress to investigate the matter. Reports from the weekend added further complexity, indicating that after an initial strike on September 2, a follow-up attack was ordered to eliminate the remaining survivors, which is prohibited under the rules of war. The Geneva Conventions specifically protect wounded combatants, requiring that they be shielded and afforded medical care, rather than targeted.
In response to the allegations, Republican-led committees overseeing the Pentagon have committed to conducting thorough investigations into the strikes. The Senate Armed Services Committee stated it has initiated inquiries and will pursue “vigorous oversight” to uncover the facts surrounding these operations. Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee is also taking bipartisan steps to obtain a comprehensive account of the events in question. Lawmakers across party lines have called for congressional reviews, with Senator Tim Kaine labeling the actions as potentially constituting war crimes if the reports are accurate. Republican representative Mike Turner emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, noting that if true, such actions would be illegal.
As the situation develops, President Trump remains in Washington without any public events on his schedule, aside from signing congressional bills later today. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to address reporters at 1 PM ET, where further updates on this contentious issue may be provided.