Pete Hegseth Says He’d Have Ordered a Second Strike on Venezuelan Drug Boat — Fully Backs Adm. Frank Bradley

WASHINGTON — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has publicly stated that, while he did not personally order the second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, he would have made the same decision, intensifying debate over the September 2 U.S. military operation that targeted survivors of an initial attack.

Hegseth’s Defense of the Strike

Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday, Hegseth declared, “I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself.” His comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of the Pentagon’s actions and the ethical implications of targeting individuals after their vessel had been destroyed.

The September 2 attack marked the first of 22 known strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels under the Trump administration, resulting in at least 86 deaths. Admiral Frank Bradley, a Navy SEAL, reportedly ordered the controversial second strike, which Democrats allege could constitute a war crime.

Lawmakers Divided Over Briefings

Last week, lawmakers from both the House and Senate received a classified briefing from Admiral Bradley about the strikes. The session left Democrats deeply disturbed. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the footage as “one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service,” noting, “You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, [who] were killed by the United States.”

Republicans, however, largely defended the Pentagon’s actions. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) argued that the survivors remained a threat, saying, “I saw two survivors trying to flip a boatload of drugs down the United States back over so they could stay in the fight,” and cited intelligence that other narco-terrorist boats were in the area, potentially coming to their aid.

The Question of War Crimes

The Pentagon maintains that the survivors posed an ongoing threat, justifying the second strike. Democrats, meanwhile, are calling for further investigation and transparency, arguing that the killing of incapacitated individuals on a destroyed vessel raises serious legal and moral questions.

Public Release of Footage

President Trump has advocated for releasing footage of the strikes to the public. Hegseth, however, was noncommittal, citing concerns about operational security: “We’re reviewing it right now to make sure sources, methods, [tactics, techniques and procedures]… we’ve got operators out there doing this right now.”

Initial Controversy and Hegseth’s Response

Controversy initially erupted after a Washington Post report alleged that Hegseth gave direct orders to kill everyone on the vessel. Hegseth has denied giving such a directive, calling the accusation “patently ridiculous” and dismissing it as an attempt to caricature his decision-making.

Looking Ahead

The incident has sparked a fierce debate over the rules of engagement, the conduct of U.S. military operations, and the balance between national security and adherence to international law. As lawmakers continue to review classified evidence and the public awaits further transparency, the fallout from the Venezuelan drug boat strike is likely to shape future policy and oversight of military actions abroad.