President Donald Trump made one thing unmistakably clear on Sunday aboard Air Force One: he believes Secretary of War Pete Hegseth “100%” regarding allegations that he ordered a second strike on a Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel. And if the media thought they were going to wedge doubt between Trump and one of his strongest defenders—well, better luck next time.
Reporters pressed Trump on claims that Hegseth authorized a follow-up strike that allegedly killed two wounded men after an initial attack on a suspected drug boat. Trump didn’t dance around it—he stated repeatedly that Hegseth denied giving such an order, and that was enough for him. Apparently trusting your own Cabinet is still shocking to the press.
“He said he did not say that, and I believe him 100%,” Trump said, shutting down speculation before it could even warm up.
When a reporter asked whether Trump would have approved such a second strike had it actually happened, the President made it clear he wouldn’t have supported it—while also reminding everyone that this entire story hinges on an allegation Hegseth has flatly rejected. Trump added he would seek more details but emphasized Hegseth assured him nothing improper occurred.
“No, I wouldn’t have wanted that. Not a second strike,” Trump said.
But Trump didn’t miss the opportunity to praise the broader mission targeting drug-smuggling boats. He noted that recent operations significantly reduced the flow of narcotics entering the U.S. by sea—something critics conveniently ignore. He underscored that these vessels pose a deadly threat to Americans, pointing out the obvious: the drugs inside these boats contribute to tens of thousands of American deaths.
“You can see the boats,” Trump said. “You can see the drugs in the boats and each boat is responsible for killing 25,000 Americans.”
The accusations stem from reports in outlets like The Washington Post and CNN—because of course they did—claiming that after the initial strike on Sept. 2, a commander allegedly ordered a second attack because he believed Hegseth required that all personnel on the vessel be killed.
Hegseth didn’t mince words in response. In a blistering post on X, he slammed the allegations as yet another effort by the media to smear those protecting the United States.
“As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” Hegseth wrote.
In the end, Trump’s message was simple: trust the people defending America, not the outlets desperate to undermine them. And if there’s anything consistent about this administration, it’s that loyalty, strength, and clarity always prevail—something that should give Americans confidence moving forward.
