“What’s Hegseth Hiding?” Schumer Vows To Confront Defense Secretary, Demands Unedited Footage From Deadly Sept. 2 Boat Strike

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will confront Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and demand the release of unedited, classified footage related to a Sept. 2 military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat that killed nine people and sparked widespread controversy.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Schumer said he planned to press Hegseth — who, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), was scheduled to brief Schumer and other lawmakers that evening — for full transparency about what occurred in the Caribbean.

“I plan to confront Secretary Hegseth on exactly what the hell is going on in the Caribbean,” Schumer said, adding that he would demand the total, unedited videos of the Sept. 2 boat strikes. Schumer also accused the White House of sending mixed signals, saying President Donald Trump initially supported releasing the footage but later left the decision to Hegseth.

The Controversy

Critics say the episode crossed a grave line after an initial strike killed nine people and a follow-up attack reportedly targeted survivors. The allegations stem from a Washington Post report that quoted an order to “kill everybody” aboard the vessel — an account Hegseth has denied.

The New York Times later reported that Hegseth’s order was not prompted by surveillance footage showing survivors of the first blast, and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Navy Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley disputed the Washington Post’s version of events.

Wider Context And Concerns

The Trump administration has conducted more than 20 similar strikes on suspected drug boats since early September, a campaign that has drawn growing scrutiny on Capitol Hill and in the press. Schumer also criticized President Trump’s recent statements threatening to target so-called “narco-terrorists” on land — comments that included naming drug traffickers in Venezuela as potential targets.

Schumer warned that hostile rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and expanded targeting could risk drawing the United States into a prolonged conflict. He emphasized that the American public and lawmakers deserve clear answers about the rules, supervision and legal basis for these operations. Schumer, who voted in favor of the Iraq War, said that history makes transparency especially important.

Schumer: “What’s Hegseth hiding?”

Lawmakers were scheduled to receive briefings from Hegseth and Rubio, and Schumer said he planned to press them for a full accounting of U.S. objectives, rules of engagement and oversight in the Caribbean and Venezuela.

Source: Mediaite (original reporting); video of Schumer’s remarks available via C-SPAN.