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Trump Backs Hegseth, Says He Would Not Have Authorized Second Strike on Alleged Narco-Boat

President Trump said he believes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s denial of a report that he ordered forces to "kill everybody" aboard an alleged drug-smuggling boat and pledged to investigate. Trump added he would not have authorised a second strike and repeated that Hegseth denied giving such an order. Hegseth called the report "fake news" while defending the legality of strikes on suspected narco-boats. The account has prompted criticism from Democrats and at least one senior Republican, who called the alleged action a possible war crime.

06:33 PM, 12/01/2025Security
Trump Backs Hegseth, Says He Would Not Have Authorized Second Strike on Alleged Narco-Boat

President Trump said late Sunday that he has full confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while pledging to investigate a media report that Hegseth ordered forces to "kill everybody" aboard an alleged drug-smuggling boat in September.

President: I would not have ordered a second strike

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump repeated Hegseth’s denial and said he believes him. Asked about a published account that two survivors clung to debris after an initial strike, Trump said, "I don’t know anything about it. He said he did not say that, and I believe him, 100 percent."

According to the report, the special-operations commander who led the mission ordered a second attack after receiving what was described as Hegseth’s earlier direction to "kill everybody" on the vessel. Trump said he would not have authorised a follow-up strike.

"No. 1, I don’t know that that happened," Trump said when asked whether a hypothetical second attack would have been unlawful. "And Pete said he did not want them — he didn’t even know what people were talking about. So, we’ll look at, we’ll look into it."

He added: "But 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. I have great confidence in him." When pressed on whether he would accept an order to "kill everybody," Trump replied, "He said he didn’t do it, so I don’t have to make that decision."

Hegseth rejects the account; legality questioned

Secretary Hegseth publicly disputed the report, calling it "fake news" while stopping short of directly repeating or confirming the alleged phrase. He defended the U.S. strikes on suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as lawful operations intended to stop dangerous drugs, destroy smuggling boats and eliminate traffickers.

In a statement, Hegseth described the missions as "lethal, kinetic strikes" aimed at disrupting drug flows and said those targeted were affiliated with designated terrorist groups, according to his office.

The reported account has drawn criticism from Democrats and at least one senior Republican in Congress, who described the alleged direction as a potential war crime. The White House says it will review the matter further to determine what occurred and whether any rules of engagement or laws were violated.

What happens next: The administration has indicated it will examine the facts and statements from participants. Officials say they will review the operational record and interview those involved before drawing conclusions.

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