The White House on Monday defended the legality of the second U.S. military strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean in September — even though President Donald Trump has publicly said he “wouldn’t have wanted” the follow-up attack that reportedly killed survivors of the first strike.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the order fell within lawful military authority, arguing that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorised Navy Admiral Bradley to carry out “kinetic strikes” to neutralise what she called an ongoing threat to U.S. security. She maintained that the second strike was executed in self-defence to ensure the boat was destroyed and could no longer endanger American forces.
The justification came after new scrutiny of the operation. The Washington Post reported that the second strike killed survivors left in the water after the initial attack on September 2, triggering accusations of possible war-crime violations and breaches of international law. The two strikes killed 11 people and were the first lethal actions in a months-long U.S. campaign against suspected drug vessels that has since left more than 80 dead.
Hegseth denied the Post’s claim that he instructed troops to “kill them all,” calling it fabricated and accusing critics of trying to discredit U.S. service members. Trump also defended him, saying he would “look into it” and insisted Hegseth did not order the killing of survivors. Asked whether he personally supported the second strike, Trump replied: “No, I wouldn’t have wanted that.”
The controversy has prompted bipartisan calls in Congress for formal oversight of the military operations targeting drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Lawmakers have questioned the legal basis of the strikes, particularly given that Venezuela and the United States are not at war and that survivors were reportedly present when the second attack was ordered.
Despite the backlash, Trump convened his national security team on Monday to discuss next phases of the campaign, including the possibility of extending military action to Venezuelan territory. The administration contends the operations target drug cartels it claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro, addressing supporters in Caracas, accused Washington of psychological warfare and said Venezuela was prepared to defend itself. “We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression,” he said, adding that the National Assembly will launch a formal investigation into the U.S. strikes.
Trump separately confirmed he had spoken by phone with Maduro recently but refused to disclose what was discussed.
