Hegseth defends lethal strikes against alleged drug traffickers: ‘Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them’
In a recent post on X, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration’s aggressive military strategy against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, asserting that while the Biden administration has “coddled terrorists,” his team has taken decisive action to eliminate them. This statement follows reports from major news outlets like The Washington Post and CNN regarding a controversial military operation that involved a second strike on a suspected drug vessel after an initial attack left two survivors. The commander in charge of the operation reportedly justified the follow-up strike by labeling the survivors as legitimate targets, claiming they could still communicate with other traffickers. Hegseth’s remarks highlight a stark contrast between the two administrations’ approaches to national security and drug trafficking, with him emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to “lethal, kinetic strikes” aimed at dismantling drug networks and preventing the influx of harmful substances into the United States.
Hegseth’s rhetoric underscores a broader narrative within the Republican party that criticizes the Biden administration’s handling of border security and drug-related violence. He accused Biden of adopting a “kid gloves approach” that allegedly allows dangerous cartels and unvetted individuals to infiltrate American communities. In contrast, Hegseth touted the Trump administration’s efforts to seal the border and take the fight to “narco-terrorists.” He also asserted that current military operations are compliant with both U.S. and international law, emphasizing the legal backing of such actions by military and civilian lawyers. This contentious debate over military engagement and drug enforcement has drawn attention from Congress, with House Armed Services Committee leaders announcing their commitment to scrutinize the operations in the Caribbean, indicating a bipartisan interest in understanding the implications of these military actions.
Adding to the conversation, former President Trump announced plans to enhance efforts to combat Venezuelan drug traffickers by land, claiming that measures taken by the Trump administration have already significantly curtailed drug trafficking by sea. His comments reflect a broader strategy aimed at addressing the national crisis posed by drug-related deaths in the U.S., which have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives annually. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the tension between differing approaches to national security and drug enforcement remains a focal point, with both sides of the aisle seeking to assert their narratives in an increasingly polarized environment.
Secretary of War
Pete Hegseth
wrote on X that “Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them,” in a post defending the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea.Â
The declaration came following reports from outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN claiming the U.S. military ordered a second strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean
on Sept. 2
after the initial attack left two survivors.
The commander overseeing that operation told colleagues on a secure conference call that the survivors were legitimate targets because they could still contact other traffickers for help and ordered the second strike to comply with a directive from Hegseth that everyone must be killed, according to
The Washington Post.Â
“As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” Hegseth wrote on X on Friday.Â
TRUMP SAYS US WILL BEGIN STOPPING VENEZUELAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS BY LAND
“As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘
lethal, kinetic strikes
.’ The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill
the narco-terrorists
who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization,” Hegseth continued.Â
“The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people — including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans — to flood our communities with drugs and violence. The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narco-terrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them,” he added. “Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict — and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command.”
In a separate post on his personal X account, Hegseth wrote, “We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.”Â
US FORCES KILL 3 NARCO-TERRORISTS IN EASTERN PACIFIC LETHAL STRIKE OPERATION TARGETING DRUG NETWORKS
House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Ranking Member Adam Smith, D-Wash., issued a joint statement Saturday noting the committee is committed to providing “rigorous oversight” of the War Department’s military operations in the Caribbean.
“We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question,” the lawmakers wrote in the statement.
Fox News Digital has reached out to a Biden spokesperson for comment.
President
Donald Trump
also said on Thursday said the U.S. will “very soon” begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers “by land.”Â
“From sending their poisons into the United States, where they kill hundreds of thousands of people a year — but we’re going to take care of that situation,” Trump said. “We’re already doing a lot … It’s about 85%Â
stopped by sea.”
Â
The president added, “You probably noticed that now people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.”Â
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.
