The defense secretary is doing everything he can to avoid blame for the September 2 boat strikes that have been likened to a "war crime."

Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez stood by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a report claiming that he ordered that all members aboard an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean be killed, alleged actions that prompted Democrats to say he may have committed war crimes.

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GOP-led committees are looking into a report alleging Hegseth gave an order to "kill everybody" aboard a boat.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the different explanations given about a second strike that killed survivors of a first attack against an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean.

A rumor that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was rushed to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., after poking his eye with a mascara brush circulated online in late 2025. For example, a Facebook page titled Gavin Newsom 2028 shared the story on Oct. 29, 2025 ( archived ):

Admiral Bradley headed up the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in September, and was promoted in October.

Pentagon officials are reportedly concerned that the Trump administration is throwing an admiral under the bus as scrutiny over a second attack to finish off survivors of an alleged drug boat in September mounts.

The Pentagon is facing intensifying scrutiny over the 2 September 2025 strike near Venezuelan waters, as congressional lawmakers and military-law experts question whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to distance himself from the decision to kill survivors of a destroyed vessel and shift responsibility onto Admiral Frank M.