Name: Pete Hegseth on boat strikes: We will find you and we will sink you
Uploaded: 2025-12-07T07:34:54.847Z
Duration: 2 min 15 s
Description: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats, saying President Trump can take decisive military action as he sees fit. Willie James Inman reports on the latest.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats, saying President Trump can take decisive military action as he sees fit. Willie James Inman reports on the latest.

Washington

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reaffirmed support for military strikes on boats suspected of drug smuggling, stating that President Trump is empowered to take decisive action. Since September, over 20 such strikes have occurred, with Hegseth declaring that those working for terrorist organizations and transporting drugs by boat will be found and sunk.

The strikes have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, some of whom question their legality and cite concerns about possible violations of laws protecting wounded combatants. Separately, a government watchdog found Hegseth violated Pentagon rules by sharing sensitive information in a chat that included a journalist. Meanwhile, President Trump became the first president to host the Kennedy Center Honors after being appointed chairman of its board of trustees.

Pete Hegseth on boat strikes: "We will find you and we will sink you"

Tonight, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is doubling down on U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats, saying President Trump can take decisive military action as he sees it. But at the White House this evening, President Trump is focused on the Kennedy Center honorees, giving medals to recipients Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, and the rock band KISS. CBS's Willie James Enman is there with new reporting on all of it. Willie James. Jerika, good evening to you. While the president celebrates the Kennedy Center honorees tonight, his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing two separate controversies. During a speech in California, Secretary Hegseth stood by the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug smugglers. Since September, there have been more than 20 strikes on boats allegedly transporting drugs. We've been clear, if you're working for a designated terrorist organization and you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you. Hegseth's remarks come days after lawmakers demanded details on an alleged drug boat strike in early September. This video shows the first strike on the boat, but a separate video showing a second strike that killed two survivors has not been released. Some lawmakers briefed Thursday by military officials on Capitol Hill questioned the legality, noting that laws protecting wounded combatants may have been violated. What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. But military officials maintain their survivors were trying to salvage the drugs and transport them. President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit. Also this week, a government watchdog report found that Hegseth violated Pentagon rules and could have endangered troops earlier this year. He shared details about a strike on Houthi rebels in a Signal Group chat, which mistakenly included a journalist. Hegseth responded to the report on social media saying total exoneration and case close. And Tariqa, on Sunday night, President Trump will be the first president to serve as host of the Kennedy Center Honors after his handpicked board of trustees appointed him chairman earlier this year. Willie James Emmon at the White House, thank you.

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