Pete Hegseth Avoids Answering Important Question About Boat Collision

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth carefully sidestepped questions on Saturday about whether the Pentagon will make public the complete footage of its contentious double-strike on a Caribbean vessel on September 2, which was reportedly transporting drugs. So far, only the first strike has been shared publicly.

Reports indicate the unreleased video captures two survivors clinging to the wreckage before a second strike killed them. Legal analysts have characterized this follow-up strike as potentially constituting a war crime or murder.

Democratic lawmakers who recently viewed the entire footage, in which 11 people were killed, described it as one of the most disturbing things Ive seen in public service and said it confirmed my deepest concerns about the Trump administrations military operations.

When asked on Wednesday whether footage of the second strike would be released, President Donald Trump stated simply: Whatever they have, wed certainly release, no problem. Hegseth, however, avoided a clear response.

At the Reagan National Defense Forum, Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson asked Hegseth, When can we see that video? When will you release it? The defense secretary replied vaguely: Were reviewing it right now to protect sources, methods, and ongoing operations. Whatever we release, we need to be responsible. So, were in the process of reviewing it.

When pressed later about whether the full video will ever be released, Hegseth again dodged the question: We are reviewing it at the moment. The key priority is safeguarding our ongoing operations in the Caribbean and the specialized techniques our teams use. That comes before anything else, so well see how the review process unfolds.

Author: Caleb Jennings