President Donald Trump, after initially saying he had “no problem” with releasing the video of the Sept. 2 strike on an alleged drug boat within the Caribbean Sea that killed two survivors, is now reversing course and deferring to Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“I did not say that,” Trump claimed when pressed on Monday by ABC Information Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott about his Dec. 3 feedback.
“No matter Hegseth desires to do is OK with me,” Trump mentioned on Monday.
In an interview with Politico printed on Tuesday morning, Trump additional distanced himself from the controversy when requested if he believed the second strike on the survivors was needed.
“Nicely, it seemed like they have been making an attempt to show again over the boat. However I do not get entangled in that. That is as much as them,” Trump mentioned.
President Donald Trump attends a roundtable dialogue within the Cupboard Room on the White Home in Washington, December 8, 2025.
Yuri Gripas/EPA/Shutterstock
Although final week, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson spoke about Trump and Hegseth’s accountability for the strike.
“On the finish of the day, the president and the secretary are those directing these strikes, and any follow-up strikes that have been directed by Adm. Bradley, the secretary 100% agrees with,” Wilson instructed reporters at a briefing on the Pentagon on Dec. 2.
ABC Senior White Home Correspondent Selina Wang requested the president within the Oval Workplace on Dec. 3, “Will you launch video of that strike — in order that the American individuals can see for themselves?”
Trump responded, “I do not know what they’ve, however no matter they’ve, we’d actually launch no downside.”
Officers have confirmed there have been 4 army strikes towards the alleged drug boat on Sept. 2, the primary strike killing 9 of the 11 individuals aboard. About 40 minutes later, a second strike was ordered to kill the 2 survivors. Two further strikes have been ordered to sink the boat, officers mentioned.
Some Democrats and authorized specialists have prompt that the killing of survivors may represent a conflict crime.
President Trump introduced on his social media platform, Sept. 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. army forces to conduct “a kinetic strike towards positively recognized Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists within the SOUTHCOM space of accountability.”
@realDonaldTrump/Reality Social
Hegseth, who was heading to Capitol Hill on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine to transient the “Gang of Eight” on nationwide safety issues, has not dedicated to releasing the video of the strike. The protection secretary cited considerations that releasing the video may expose sources or strategies that might have to be protected.
Hegseth additionally has prompt the survivors killed posed an imminent menace.
Rep. Adam Smith, the highest Democrat on the Home Armed Companies Committee who has seen the video of the strike, pushed again on the outline supplied by Hegseth and different Republicans.
Smith, throughout an look on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, referred to as the video “deeply disturbing” and mentioned “it didn’t seem that these two survivors have been in any place to proceed the combat.”
Members of Congress are trying to pass new legislation to drive Hegseth to offer lawmakers the unedited footage of the strike.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks throughout a cupboard assembly on the White Home, Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Trump was requested within the interview with Politico if Hegseth ought to testify underneath oath in regards to the Sept. 2 strike.
“I do not care if he does. He can if he desires. I do not care,” Trump mentioned. He added that he believes Hegseth is “doing an ideal job.”
The Sept. 2 boat strike is a part of what the administration has referred to as its “conflict” on drug cartels. There have been greater than 20 army strikes towards vessels within the Caribbean Sea and the jap Pacific, killing greater than 80 individuals.
ABC Information’ Rachel Scott and Mary Bruce contributed to this report.
