President Donald Trump has recently altered his position regarding the release of a video documenting a military strike on September 2, which targeted an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea. Initially, Trump expressed no objection to making the footage public, stating, “I didn’t say that,” when questioned by ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott during a press conference on December 3. However, Trump has now deferred to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming, “Whatever Hegseth wants to do is OK with me.”
In an interview with Politico published on December 4, Trump distanced himself further from the ongoing debate about the necessity of the second strike that killed two survivors. He remarked, “Well, it looked like they were trying to turn back over the boat. But I don’t get involved in that. That’s up to them.” The Pentagon has reported that the September 2 incident involved four military strikes against the alleged drug boat, with the first strike resulting in the deaths of nine out of the eleven individuals on board. Approximately 40 minutes later, a second strike was ordered to eliminate the remaining two survivors, followed by two additional strikes aimed at sinking the boat.
Some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have voiced concerns that the killing of the survivors could potentially be classified as a war crime. During a Pentagon briefing on December 2, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson emphasized the accountability of both Trump and Hegseth in directing these military actions. Wilson stated, “At the end of the day, the president and the secretary are the ones directing these strikes, and any follow-up strikes that were directed by Adm. Bradley, the secretary 100% agrees with.”
On December 3, during an Oval Office interview, ABC Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang pressed Trump on whether he would release the video of the strike for public viewing. Trump responded, “I don’t know what they have, but whatever they have, we’d certainly release no problem.” Despite this assurance, Hegseth, who was on his way to Capitol Hill to brief the Gang of Eight on national security issues, has not committed to making the video public, citing concerns that its release could compromise sensitive sources or methods.
In light of the disturbing nature of the video, which has been viewed by Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, lawmakers are working on legislation that would require Hegseth to provide unedited footage of the strike to Congress. Smith described the video as “deeply disturbing” and stated that the two survivors did not appear to be in a position to continue fighting. Furthermore, Trump expressed indifference when asked if Hegseth should testify under oath regarding the events of September 2, saying, “I don’t care if he does. He can if he wants. I don’t care.” He also acknowledged Hegseth's performance, stating he believes the defense secretary is doing a great job.
The September 2 strike is part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts in what has been termed a war on drug cartels. To date, there have been more than 20 military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific, resulting in over 80 fatalities. As the controversy continues to unfold, the implications of these military actions and their potential legal ramifications remain a focal point for both lawmakers and the public.
As the debate over military ethics and accountability persists, the release of the video and the subsequent testimonies from key officials will likely play a crucial role in shaping the narrative surrounding U.S. military operations against drug trafficking.