Trump says he believes Hegseth ‘100%’ on Venezuelan drug boat strike denial amid allegations
In a recent press briefing aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump came to the defense of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth amid allegations that Hegseth ordered a second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of two wounded men. The controversy stems from a military operation on September 2, where a suspected drug-smuggling vessel was initially attacked, leaving survivors who were allegedly targeted in a follow-up strike. Trump emphasized that Hegseth denied giving such an order and expressed unwavering trust in his secretary, stating, “He said he did not say that, and I believe him 100%.” This assertion highlights Trump’s approach to leadership, where he publicly supports his officials amidst controversy, while also indicating his intention to gather more information about the incident.
Despite the allegations, Trump praised the broader military campaign against drug-smuggling operations, underscoring the importance of these actions in combating the influx of narcotics into the United States. He framed the strikes as a necessary measure to protect American lives, noting that each drug-laden vessel poses a significant threat, responsible for the deaths of approximately 25,000 Americans. Hegseth, for his part, took to social media to dismiss the allegations as “fake news,” asserting that the military’s “lethal, kinetic strikes” are crucial for dismantling drug trafficking networks and protecting the homeland. This incident reflects the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. military in addressing drug trafficking, as well as the intense scrutiny and political ramifications that accompany military operations in volatile regions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzub4ljU9EU
President
Donald Trump
on Sunday defended Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over allegations he ordered a second strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, saying he believes Hegseth’s denial and would not have supported a follow-up attack if it happened.
The exchange came during a gaggle aboard Air Force One as reporters pressed Trump on claims that Hegseth authorized
a second strike that allegedly killed
two wounded men after an earlier attack on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel.
Trump repeatedly said Hegseth denied giving such an order. He added that he was aware of the allegation but stressed that Hegseth told him the claim was untrue and that he accepted that explanation without hesitation.
“He said he did not say that, and I believe him 100%,” Trump said.
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Reporters asked Trump whether he would have approved a second strike if Hegseth had ordered one, prompting him to again distance himself from the allegation while stressing that he trusted his secretary of War.
Trump said he planned to seek additional information about the reported incident but reiterated that Hegseth assured him nothing improper happened.
“No, I wouldn’t have wanted that. Not a second strike,” Trump said.
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Still, he praised the wider campaign targeting
drug-smuggling boats
, saying the strikes had sharply reduced the flow of narcotics into the U.S. by sea in recent months.
Trump argued the vessels posed a deadly threat and framed the operations as necessary to protect Americans, calling the missions lethal but justified.
“You can see the boats,” he said. “You can see the drugs in the boats and each boat is responsible for killing 25,000 Americans.”
TRUMP SAYS ‘DON’T READ ANYTHING INTO IT’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT DECLARING VENEZUELA’S AIRSPACE CLOSED
Trump went to Hegseth’s defense after reports from outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN claimed the
U.S. military
ordered a second strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean on Sept. 2 after the earlier attack left two survivors.
According to The Washington Post, 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 what he said was a directive from Hegseth that everyone must be killed.
“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.
“As we’ve said from the beginning and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be ‘lethal, kinetic strikes,’” Hegseth continued. “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.”
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
