Hegseth Says He Authorized Sept. 2 Strike, Signals Major Rise In Defense Spending

Hegseth Reveals Details Of Sept. 2 Strike And Outlines Defense Priorities

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told Fox News Saturday that he personally approved and watched the Trump administration’s Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off Venezuela, describing it as the opening action in a campaign of more than 20 U.S. strikes against cartel-linked "narco-terrorist" networks across the Caribbean.

Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum and later in an on-camera Q&A with Lucas Tomlinson, Hegseth framed President Donald Trump as a steward of Ronald Reagan’s "peace through strength" philosophy and criticized past bipartisan leaders for allowing U.S. forces to become drawn into protracted conflicts.

Operational Details and Rules of Engagement

Hegseth said the Sept. 2 mission required nearly a month to assemble intelligence and to redirect assets that had been deployed "10,000 miles around the other side of the world." He said his role was limited to approving the initial strike because of its strategic implications, and that he watched the mission feed "for probably five minutes or so" from the Pentagon before handing tactical execution to commanders.

"My job was to say execute or don’t execute," he said. "I approved the strike."

Hegseth strongly rejected media reports that he ordered forces to "kill all individuals" on the targeted boat, calling such accounts "patently ridiculous." He emphasized that legal reviews, intelligence analysis, red-teaming, and civilian oversight were part of the extensive briefing he received before authorizing the action.

Follow-Up Strikes, Survivors, And Command Authority

Hours after the initial attack, commanders requested a second strike because some individuals remained capable of fighting, radios were accessible, and drugs and potential link-up points remained on board. Hegseth said he fully supported the re-attack and that follow-up strikes fall "well within the authorities of Adm. Bradley," who now oversees strike approvals; Hegseth said he no longer retains that approval authority for subsequent missions.

Addressing survivor protocols, Hegseth described a later incident involving a semi-submersible where an initial strike did not disable the vessel, some crew members jumped into the water, and a second strike sank it. U.S. forces recovered survivors and returned them to their host countries, he said, and added that the episode reflected situational differences rather than a change in protocol.

Policy Implications: Deterrence, Spending, And Technology

Hegseth argued the operations are having a deterrent effect: "We’re putting them at the bottom of the Caribbean… It will make the American people safer," he said. On transparency, he noted the Pentagon is still reviewing President Trump’s public comment about releasing unredacted video of the strike because of concerns over "sources, methods" and ongoing operations.

Hegseth also flagged defense spending as a major priority, saying he has participated in Oval Office discussions about the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets. Asked whether defense spending as a share of GDP will increase, he replied, "I think that number is going up," and urged a revived defense industrial base to restore critical capabilities.

On technology and personnel, Hegseth said modern conflict requires both AI-enabled tools and autonomous systems: "It has to be both," he said, underscoring that AI multiplies sensing speed and enhances battlefield awareness. He defended his operational decisions, said he has "no regrets" about prior communications choices, and argued that military morale and recruitment have improved under the current administration.

He closed the interview on a lighter note when asked about the Army–Navy game: "Well, I’m with Navy," he said, while praising the Marine Corps for standing strong through recent political "nonsense."