Pete Hegseth defends attack on ‘drug boat’ suspects
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended the military strikes on suspected “drug ships” saying they were aimed at stopping drug trafficking and protecting Americans.
- Resurfaced comments show Pete Hegseth previously criticized Donald Trump’s comments about the military following potentially illegal orders.
- Hegseth, now army chief, is currently under intense scrutiny for a deadly attack on an alleged drug ship.
- Hegseth recently criticized a Democratic group that released a video instructing military personnel not to follow illegal orders.
Back when Pete Hegseth was a Fox News host and Donald Trump was a seemingly long-term presidential candidate, Hegseth warned about Trump’s rhetoric about the military not adhering to the law.
The resurfaced comments, first reported by CNN’s K-Files, come as the Trump administration faces increased scrutiny over attacks on alleged drug ships that killed dozens of people. Six Democratic members of Congress also released a controversial video in November telling U.S. military personnel not to obey illegal orders, without citing specific incidents.
Hegseth, who is currently the Secretary of the Army (and former Secretary of Defense), is a former Army National Guard officer who worked for Fox News from 2014 until he was appointed by President Trump to serve in his current role. He was highly critical of the Democrats who released the video, all of whom are former members of the military and intelligence agencies, calling them the “seditionary six.”
Back in the 2016 election, Mr. Trump caused controversy and even drew criticism from Mr. Hegseth when he suggested that the military would follow his orders, even when it involved illegal acts such as torture. Here’s what you need to know:
Hegseth: “Donald Trump often talks about Donald Trump”
In the 2016 Republican primary, Trump supported waterboarding and said the military would carry out his orders. According to NPR, multiple international organizations consider waterboarding to be illegal.
“When I tell them to do it, they do it,” he said. “That’s what leadership is all about.”
President Trump received significant backlash for his position and later walked back his position, saying he did not intend to require the military to disobey the law. Mr. Hegseth discussed Mr. Trump’s remarks on Megyn Kelly’s show on Fox News the following day, as video archives show.
“Typical President Trump: talkative, very little substance. He talked about a tough game,” Hegseth said. “He’s a tough guy in the armchair.”
Hegseth said that while it is unlikely that President Trump will be able to change international law on war crimes, it is still dangerous for a potential commander-in-chief to say he supports the torture and killing of terrorists’ families.
“What happens if people comply or don’t comply with that order? It’s not clear that Donald Trump will support them,” Hegseth said. “Donald Trump often says Donald Trump, so you can’t do that. If you just say it without changing the law, you’re creating even more ambiguity.”
Video of Mr. Hegseth’s lecture in April 2016 was also widely shared on X. In it, he said, “Soldiers will not obey illegal orders from their commander-in-chief.”
Colorado Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, who appeared in the controversial video, shared the video with the caption, “What’s changed, Pete? Our Secretary of Defense is unqualified and dishonest.”
Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson said the Democratic video was “designed to sow distrust and confusion in our military.”
“As Secretary Hegseth recently stated, and as a civilian before taking office, the military already has clear procedures for dealing with unlawful orders,” Wilson said. “The orders given to our military under President Trump are lawful.”
Boat strike puts Hegseth under scrutiny
The Trump administration has come under intense scrutiny for attacks on drug smuggling ships that killed more than 80 people. They say the strikes are aimed at stopping drug imports from Venezuela, and President Trump has suggested that ground strikes may be imminent. In one case at the center of the current controversy, a follow-up attack killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage.
Hegseth supported the second attack, but said he did not order it himself and criticized an earlier Washington Post report that said he had given instructions to “kill everyone.”
“Just as President Trump always supports us, we always support commanders in making decisions in difficult situations, and we have done so in this and all of these attacks,” Hegseth said on Dec. 2. Trump also signaled his support for Hegseth during the meeting.
President Trump initially said he had no problem releasing the video of the second attack, but on December 8, he denied supporting the release of the video and said it was up to Hegseth.
The Trump administration announced it would launch an investigation into Congressional Democrats who argued that the military can and must refuse illegal orders.
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
