President Donald Trump said Sunday he “wouldn’t have wanted” a reported second U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat, while insisting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied giving any such order.
The Washington Post reported that Hegseth verbally instructed commanders to leave no survivors during a September operation in the Caribbean. The first strike reportedly left two people alive, prompting a second strike that killed them.
Hegseth has rejected the report as “fabricated” and said all operations comply with U.S. and international law. CBS News has not independently confirmed the account.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed alarm, with some noting the alleged follow-on strike could constitute a war crime if proven. Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have launched investigations.
Trump defended Hegseth and said he would “find out” what happened. He also praised the broader anti-drug campaign, noting nearly two dozen recent strikes and claiming significant reductions in maritime drug trafficking.
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TIPP Staff
