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Johnson Cites Obama-Era Drone Campaign Amid Controversy Over Hegseth-Authorized Boat Strikes

Speaker Mike Johnson referenced drone strikes from the Obama era while addressing reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized strikes on a Caribbean vessel. Media accounts say a follow-up strike killed two survivors of an initial attack, though other reports say no explicit order for a second strike was given. Johnson declined to call the follow-up a war crime and said Congress will hold hearings; he argued such strikes are not unprecedented, a point critics say overlooks past scrutiny and oversight of Obama-era operations.

03:59 AM, 12/03/2025Politics

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) referenced U.S. counterterrorism strikes carried out under former President Barack Obama while responding to questions about recent strikes on a Caribbean vessel allegedly carrying drugs that were authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

What was reported

Recent media reports say that during September operations, an initial strike hit a boat suspected of carrying narcotics and that a follow-up strike later killed two survivors of the first attack. Other reports indicate there was no explicit order to launch a second strike if the initial attack failed to achieve its objective. The differing accounts have prompted questions from lawmakers and the public about the rules of engagement and oversight for such operations.

Johnson's response

At a Tuesday news conference, Johnson declined to label the follow-up strike a war crime and said, "I'm not going to prejudge any of that." He added that Congress would hold hearings to examine the matter and review the facts.

Johnson sought to place the actions in broader historical context, saying, "It's not an unprecedented thing. One of the things I was reminded of this morning is that under Barack Obama... I think there were 550 drone strikes on people who were targeted as enemies of the country, and nobody ever questioned it."

Context and scrutiny

That characterization drew pushback from observers and legal experts: strikes during the Obama administration in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia prompted widespread scrutiny, legal debate and congressional oversight. Secondary or follow-up strikes have been used in past military operations, but they have also raised persistent questions about civilian harm, rules of engagement and accountability.

Next steps

Johnson emphasized the need for measured congressional oversight, saying that investigators should gather all facts before drawing conclusions. Lawmakers are expected to examine both the authorization given for the Caribbean strikes and the broader policies that govern the use of force in similar operations.

Note: The figure Johnson cited for Obama-era strikes reflects a claim he made during the briefing; historical records show wide variation in counts and vigorous debate over the scope and oversight of those operations.

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