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George Will Calls Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'a War Criminal' Over Alleged Boat Strikes

Columnist George Will accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of acting like "a war criminal" after reports that Hegseth ordered force against suspected drug-smuggling vessels and allegedly directed that survivors be killed. The reports say a September strike left two people clinging to wreckage who were later killed by a follow-up strike. Hegseth defended the actions as a product of the "fog of war," while critics call for explanations and possible investigation into the operational justification.

03:15 AM, 12/03/2025Politics
George Will Calls Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'a War Criminal' Over Alleged Boat Strikes

Conservative columnist George Will delivered a blistering critique of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a recent op-ed, accusing him of behaving like "a war criminal" in connection with U.S. strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking near Venezuela.

Allegations and Will's Argument

Will’s column, citing reports based on unnamed sources familiar with the matter, says Hegseth authorized force against suspected drug-smuggling boats and then ordered that everyone aboard be killed. According to those reports, a September strike left two people clinging to wreckage; a subsequent strike reportedly killed those survivors. Will wrote that such an order "seemed to be a war criminal. Without a war," and argued that "no operational necessity justified Hegseth’s de facto order to kill two survivors clinging to the wreckage" of one of the struck vessels.

Hegseth's Response

Hegseth has defended the operation by invoking the "fog of war," saying he did not personally see survivors and describing the scene as chaotic: "It was exploded and fire and smoke. You can’t see anything. You got digital. This is called the fog of war." His comments underscore the difficulty officials say they face when conducting maritime strikes in fast-moving, dangerous situations.

Context

U.S. officials have asserted that drug shipments coming from Venezuela are bound for the United States and have at times suggested links to the Maduro government, whose 2018 re-election drew international controversy and remains contested by opponents. The reported strikes and their alleged aftermath have raised bipartisan concern in Washington and prompted questions about rules of engagement, civilian protection, and accountability.

Key question: Were the reported actions justified by military necessity, or do they constitute unlawful conduct that requires investigation?

The allegations described in Will’s column rely on sources reported to be familiar with the operation. At this stage, the matter rests on those reports and on official responses; it has generated calls for clarification and, for some, demands for a formal inquiry into the decisions made during the strike sequence.

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