Name: White House confirms second strike on alleged drug boat
Uploaded: 2025-12-02T13:57:24.465Z
Duration: 2 min 14 s
Description: The White House on Monday confirmed the military made a second strike on a suspected drug boat in September. Lawmakers from both sides are now demanding to see the orders and the video of the second strike.

The White House on Monday confirmed the military made a second strike on a suspected drug boat in September. Lawmakers from both sides are now demanding to see the orders and the video of the second strike.

Washington

The White House acknowledged that a second strike was ordered on a suspected drug boat, clarifying that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the initial operation, while Admiral Frank Bradley made the decision for the follow-up strike. This comes after conflicting statements from President Trump, who denied the existence of a second strike, and amid calls from lawmakers for the release of related orders and video evidence.

Officials stated the strike was conducted in self-defense and did not violate the rules of armed conflict, though critics and former officials argue the second strike may have targeted helpless individuals, potentially constituting a war crime. The report also notes a separate diplomatic exchange between President Trump and Venezuelan President Maduro, in which Trump rejected Maduro's offer to leave the country in exchange for amnesty.

White House confirms second strike on alleged drug boat

Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Reading from prepared remarks, the White House press secretary said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did order this strike on a suspected drug boat on September 2nd, but did not issue an order to kill everybody, as the Washington Post first reported this weekend. Instead, she said it was Navy Admiral Frank Bradley's decision to order a second strike to ensure the boat was destroyed. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority in the lot. Her comments came just one day after President Trump claimed there was no second strike. No, I wouldn't have wanted that, not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal, it was fine, and if there were two people around, but Pete said that didn't happen. The shifting explanations frustrated lawmakers from both sides, who are now demanding to see the orders and the video of the second strike. We're going to conduct oversight and we're going to try to get to the facts. It's already been crystal clear that Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history. Leavitt insisted the strike was conducted in self-defense and did not violate the rules of armed conflict. But DOD's law of war manual states that shipwrecked combatants are in a helpless state and it would be dishonorable and inhumane to make them the object of attack. A second strike is a war crime because these individuals were injured, they were in the water. The basic rules of war that are involved here make very clear that you do not strike wounded people in the water in order to kill them. That's coming from a former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta. We are also learning more about a recent call between President Trump and Venezuelan President Maduro. The Miami Herald is reporting that Maduro told Trump he's willing to leave the country in exchange for full legal amnesty, among other demands. Trump rejected his offer, according to the Herald, and instead told the Venezuelan President that he had a week to resign and leave the country, which has not happened, Tony.

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