Trump Backs Hegseth Amid Controversy Over Drug Ship Attack

President Donald Trump stepped in to support Army Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday after accusations emerged that Hegseth ordered a second strike on a Venezuelan drug vessel. Trump expressed confidence in Hegseth’s denials, suggesting he would not endorse any further military action if it were to happen.

This back-and-forth unfolded aboard Air Force One, where reporters pressed Trump regarding claims that Hegseth authorized continued attacks on a suspected drug smuggling ship that reportedly resulted in injuries and fatalities.

Time and again, Trump emphasized that Hegseth denied giving such orders. He acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations but firmly stated that Hegseth assured him they were false, and Trump was quick to express his complete belief in his Army chief.

“He said he didn’t say that, and I believe him 100 percent,” Trump stated emphatically.

In response to further inquiries, Trump distanced himself from the allegations, reinforcing his trust in Hegseth, and mentioned that he plans to gather more details concerning the incident. However, Hegseth maintained that nothing irregular took place.

“No, I didn’t want that. It’s not a second attack,” Trump clarified.

Despite the controversy, Trump noted that recent airstrikes had significantly diminished the flow of drugs by sea into the United States, commending the broader efforts aimed at drug smuggling operations.

Trump asserted that the military operation, though deadly, was a necessary response to threats posed by these vessels, which he argued could claim countless American lives. “I see the boat,” he noted, pointing out that these ships are heavily laden with drugs. “Each boat is responsible for killing 25,000 Americans.”

Reports surfaced suggesting that the U.S. military had indeed ordered a second attack on a drug ship in the Caribbean on September 2, following an initial attack that left a couple of survivors. According to sources, the commander involved in the operation believed those survivors continued to pose a risk and was determined to follow Hegseth’s reported directive for total elimination.

On social media, Hegseth rejected claims from news organizations like The Washington Post and CNN. “As always, fake news delivers more fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory reports to discredit our great warriors who are fighting to defend our homeland,” he wrote on Friday, defending the military’s operational intents.

Hegseth further explained that these actions were targeted and deliberate, aimed at stopping the drug trade and neutralizing those associated with it—specifically, narco-terrorists harming the American public.