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 needs to do is OK with me,” Trump stated 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 obligatory.
“Properly, it seemed like they have been attempting to show again over the boat. However I do not get entangled in that. That is as much as them,” Trump stated.
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 duty 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 folks can see for themselves?”
Trump responded, “I do not know what they’ve, however no matter they’ve, we’d definitely launch no downside.”
Various Senate Republicans stated on Tuesday that they’d prefer to see the complete video of the Sept. 2 strike launched to the general public.
“We’ve bought to launch the video. Look, we’ve bought to get the Epstein recordsdata launched. We have to get any movies that don’t in any means compromise mission integrity on the market,” Republican Sen. Thom Tillis stated. “Simply get the stuff on the market.”
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was much less forceful, however stated was “OK with it being launched.”
GOP Sen. Josh Hawley additionally stated he believed it could be “useful for the general public to see it” to ease issues about various accounts of what the video reveals.
“… The [defense] secretary hasn’t requested for my opinion, however my opinion could be, take no matter steps it is advisable to redact no matter is actually delicate,” Hawley stated. “However in any other case, I believe the American folks want to see it.”
President Trump introduced on his social media platform, Sept. 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. army forces to conduct “a kinetic strike in opposition to positively recognized Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists within the SOUTHCOM space of duty.”
@realDonaldTrump/Fact Social
Officers have confirmed there have been 4 army strikes in opposition to the alleged drug boat on Sept. 2, the primary strike killing 9 of the 11 folks 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 stated.
Some Democrats and authorized consultants have recommended that the killing of survivors may represent a battle crime.
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 issues that releasing the video may expose sources or strategies that will should be protected.
Hegseth additionally has recommended the survivors killed posed an imminent risk.
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 stated “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 power Hegseth to offer lawmakers the unedited footage of the strike.
Tillis stated on Tuesday that releasing the video would clear up discrepancies about what it depicts.
“All people’s attempting to consider what’s in it. That is why it is so vital to get the movies on the market so we are able to objectively check out it ourselves. I simply suppose we’ve to be as clear as potential,” he stated.
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 below oath in regards to the Sept. 2 strike.
“I do not care if he does. He can if he needs. I do not care,” Trump stated. He added that he believes Hegseth is “doing an important job.”
The Sept. 2 boat strike is a part of what the administration has referred to as its “battle” on drug cartels. There have been greater than 20 army strikes in opposition to vessels within the Caribbean Sea and the japanese Pacific, killing greater than 80 folks.
ABC Information’ Rachel Scott and Mary Bruce contributed to this report.
