President Donald Trump has stated he would not have authorised a second military strike on survivors of an initial attack on a boat in the Caribbean, directly addressing a controversial report about the actions of a senior aide.
Defence Amid Controversial Allegations
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, the president came to the defence of Pete Hegseth, a key adviser. Trump said he believed Hegseth's denial "100%" regarding claims he ordered the follow-up attack. The president promised to investigate the matter further but was clear on his own position. "I'm going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men," Trump stated.
When pressed on whether he would have wanted a second attempt to eliminate the survivors, the president's response was unequivocal. "We'll look into it, but no, I wouldn't have wanted that – not a second strike," he said. He described the initial attack as "very lethal."
The Washington Post's Explosive Claims
The controversy stems from a report by The Washington Post published recently. The newspaper alleged that in September, Hegseth "gave a spoken directive" to "kill everybody" on board a specific vessel. According to the publication's sources, when two individuals remained alive after the first assault, a commander within the US Special Operations forces ordered the subsequent strike. This action was reportedly taken to comply with the directive attributed to Hegseth.
Firm Denials and Legal Justifications
Pete Hegseth has vehemently rejected the newspaper's account. He labelled the story as "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory." In his defence, Hegseth also argued that all US strikes conducted on boats in the Caribbean region have been fully "lawful under both US and international law."
The incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of US military operations and the chain of command. While the president has distanced himself from the alleged order for a second strike, the conflicting narratives between a major news outlet and a senior White House figure ensure the story will remain in the spotlight.
