President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth react to second drug boat strike
(NBC, KYMA) - President Donald Trump is distancing himself from a second strike on an alleged drug boat that reportedly killed survivors of the initial attack while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubles down on the attacks.
This comes as Congress calls for more investigation into the strike.
President Trump is backing away from a second military strike on a boat in the Caribbean suspected of trafficking drugs back in September.
"I didn't know about the second strike. I didn't know anything about people. I wasn't involved in it," Trump explained.
It comes as lawmakers from both parties question the legality of the September 2 incident when the Pentagon launched a second strike on an alleged drug boat near Venezuela, killing two survivors of the initial attack, according to one U.S. official and a source familiar with the Pentagon's actions.
Secretary Hegseth says he watched the first strike live, and then left the room, claiming Admiral Frank Bradley gave the order.
"Couple of hours later, I learned that that commander had made the...which he had the complete authority to do, and by the way, Admiral Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat," Hegseth spoke.
Two congressional committees have launched investigations into the incident.
Lawmakers are questioning whether it constitutes a war crime, and if so, who's responsible.
"I think both strikes are actually illegal. I don't think you can just name people and say, well, they've got drugs. Well, where's the proof?" said Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
"Hegseth initially said all of these stories were false to then, two days later being saying, 'Well, they're not false, but it wasn't me.' I'm not sure that's the kind of leadership we're looking for," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).
Hegseth chalks up the confusion to the "fog of war" while Trump insists U.S. strikes on suspected drug smugglers will continue.
"I want those boats taken out, and if we have to, we'll attack on land also," Trump remarked.
Admiral Bradley is expected to speak to lawmakers this week.
The Pentagon has conducted about 20 strikes on boats they allege were carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela since September.
