Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

There was a problem loading this video. This could be due to a temporary network issue or the video might be unavailable.

REPORTER: Does the administration deny that that second strike happened, or did it happen and the administration denies that Hegseth gave the order? LEAVITT: The latter. Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. He worked well within his authority and the law.

Aaron Rupar

1,086,727 subscribers

991,790 views • 6 months ago •via X (Twitter)

News & Politics Health & Wellness Science & Technology

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Comments

No comments available

Comments from the original post will appear here

Related Videos

Reporter: Does the administration deny that that second strike happened or did it happen and the administration denies that Hegseth gave the order Leavitt: The latter is true

Reporter: Does the administration deny that that second strike happened or did it happen and the administration denies that Hegseth gave the order Leavitt: The latter is true

Acyn

1,910,266 views • 6 months ago

🚨Karoline Leavitt confirms that the Sec. War did NOT give the order to strike the narco boat a second time, Admiral Bradley did—and he had every right to. "POTUS and Sec. Hegseth has made it clear that presidentially designated narco terrorist groups are subject to LETHAL targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on 9/2, Sec Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated." BOOM.

🚨Karoline Leavitt confirms that the Sec. War did NOT give the order to strike the narco boat a second time, Admiral Bradley did—and he had every right to. "POTUS and Sec. Hegseth has made it clear that presidentially designated narco terrorist groups are subject to LETHAL targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on 9/2, Sec Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated." BOOM.

Townhall.com

45,192 views • 6 months ago

Reporter: Admiral Bradley was the one who gave that order for a second strike? Leavitt: And he was well within his authority to do so.

Reporter: Admiral Bradley was the one who gave that order for a second strike? Leavitt: And he was well within his authority to do so.

Acyn

1,537,005 views • 6 months ago

Weija: Did Admiral Bradley order that second strike because there were still survivors after the initial strike? Leavitt: Again, as I read for you, Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority in the law.

Weija: Did Admiral Bradley order that second strike because there were still survivors after the initial strike? Leavitt: Again, as I read for you, Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority in the law.

Acyn

25,315 views • 6 months ago

Q: "Did Admiral Bradley order that second strike because there were still survivors?" Leavitt: "As I read for you, Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority of the law. He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat of narcoterrorists to the U.S. was completely eliminated." Q: "So was the initial order from Sec. Hegseth 'everyone be killed' and did that come from President Trump?" Leavitt: "I would reject that the Secretary of War ever said that."

Q: "Did Admiral Bradley order that second strike because there were still survivors?" Leavitt: "As I read for you, Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority of the law. He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat of narcoterrorists to the U.S. was completely eliminated." Q: "So was the initial order from Sec. Hegseth 'everyone be killed' and did that come from President Trump?" Leavitt: "I would reject that the Secretary of War ever said that."

The Bulwark

29,530 views • 6 months ago

NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez: “Regarding Venezuela, the President said yesterday that Secretary Hegseth had denied that that second strike — that reported second strike on an alleged drug boat on September 2 — the secretary said to the president that that didn't happen. But to clarify, I just wanted to clear this out. In his social media posts, Secretary Hegseth didn't go into details about that strike. He just said U.S. operations in the area were lawful. And he said that the story and media reports were fabricated. So, to be clear, does the administration deny that that second strike happened or did it happen and the administration denies that Secretary Hegseth gave the order?” Karoline Leavitt Karoline Leavitt: “The latter is true, Gabe, and I have a statement to read for you here. President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on September 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated. And I would just add one more point to remind the American public why these lethal strikes are taking place, because this administration has designated these narco terrorists as foreign terrorist organizations. The President has a right to take them out if they are threatening the United States of America, and if they are bringing illegal narcotics that are killing our citizens at a record rate, which is what they are doing. And under the previous administration, there was enough fentanyl trafficked into our country to kill every American man, woman and child many times over. And so, that's why you've seen a drastic difference in this administration's policy with respect to the last. And it's one of the many reasons the American public reelected this president and support this secretary of war in conducting these strikes.”

NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez: “Regarding Venezuela, the President said yesterday that Secretary Hegseth had denied that that second strike — that reported second strike on an alleged drug boat on September 2 — the secretary said to the president that that didn't happen. But to clarify, I just wanted to clear this out. In his social media posts, Secretary Hegseth didn't go into details about that strike. He just said U.S. operations in the area were lawful. And he said that the story and media reports were fabricated. So, to be clear, does the administration deny that that second strike happened or did it happen and the administration denies that Secretary Hegseth gave the order?” Karoline Leavitt Karoline Leavitt: “The latter is true, Gabe, and I have a statement to read for you here. President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on September 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated. And I would just add one more point to remind the American public why these lethal strikes are taking place, because this administration has designated these narco terrorists as foreign terrorist organizations. The President has a right to take them out if they are threatening the United States of America, and if they are bringing illegal narcotics that are killing our citizens at a record rate, which is what they are doing. And under the previous administration, there was enough fentanyl trafficked into our country to kill every American man, woman and child many times over. And so, that's why you've seen a drastic difference in this administration's policy with respect to the last. And it's one of the many reasons the American public reelected this president and support this secretary of war in conducting these strikes.”

Curtis Houck

21,056 views • 6 months ago

Q: “Why won't the administration either confirm or deny or reveal whether or not there were survivors after that initial first strike, and what imminent threat would two survivors pose who were clinging presumably to the wreckage of that boat?” Leavitt: “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed and the threat to the narcoterrorists, to the United States, was eliminated.”

Q: “Why won't the administration either confirm or deny or reveal whether or not there were survivors after that initial first strike, and what imminent threat would two survivors pose who were clinging presumably to the wreckage of that boat?” Leavitt: “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed and the threat to the narcoterrorists, to the United States, was eliminated.”

The Bulwark

70,215 views • 6 months ago

Reporter: Why won't the administration either confirm or deny whether or not there were a survivors after that initial first strike? What imminent threat would survivors pose who were clinging presumably to the wreckage of that boat? Leavitt: I think you guys are not listening fully to the statement I provided. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed

Reporter: Why won't the administration either confirm or deny whether or not there were a survivors after that initial first strike? What imminent threat would survivors pose who were clinging presumably to the wreckage of that boat? Leavitt: I think you guys are not listening fully to the statement I provided. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed

Acyn

343,027 views • 6 months ago

Has the United States committed a war crime in the Caribbean Sea? Reports say Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, ordered a second strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US, with the directive to “kill them all”. Hegseth denies this, and says the order was actually given by Admiral Frank Bradley. But regardless - the administration stands by the move.

Has the United States committed a war crime in the Caribbean Sea? Reports say Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, ordered a second strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela to the US, with the directive to “kill them all”. Hegseth denies this, and says the order was actually given by Admiral Frank Bradley. But regardless - the administration stands by the move.

Channel 4 News

23,170 views • 6 months ago

White House confirms SECOND STRIKE on alleged narco-boat Hegseth didn’t order the survivors killed, but admiral who did was 'well within his authority to do so', spox says

White House confirms SECOND STRIKE on alleged narco-boat Hegseth didn’t order the survivors killed, but admiral who did was 'well within his authority to do so', spox says

RT

24,741 views • 6 months ago

REPORTER: What legal authority did the Pentagon invoke to strike that boat? HEGSETH: We have the absolute and complete authority

REPORTER: What legal authority did the Pentagon invoke to strike that boat? HEGSETH: We have the absolute and complete authority

Molly Ploofkins

57,276 views • 9 months ago

Morning Joe is panicking by suggesting that Pete Hegseth’s Caribbean boat strike order is putting military careers at risk. David Ignatius: “The commander, Admiral Mitch Bradley I believe is his name, who gave the final order to take out the two surviving people on that boat on September 2nd, says that he was following an oral order, not a written order, but an oral order by Secretary Hegseth…There will be discussion as to whether he, Admiral Bradley, was acting independent of the authority that Secretary Hegseth had issued. Every detail of this will be subject to analysis because people's careers, all the way down the chain, are going to be at risk because of the result.”

Morning Joe is panicking by suggesting that Pete Hegseth’s Caribbean boat strike order is putting military careers at risk. David Ignatius: “The commander, Admiral Mitch Bradley I believe is his name, who gave the final order to take out the two surviving people on that boat on September 2nd, says that he was following an oral order, not a written order, but an oral order by Secretary Hegseth…There will be discussion as to whether he, Admiral Bradley, was acting independent of the authority that Secretary Hegseth had issued. Every detail of this will be subject to analysis because people's careers, all the way down the chain, are going to be at risk because of the result.”

DeVory Darkins

235,111 views • 6 months ago

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that there was a follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean earlier this year, but denies that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the order. The Washington Post reported Friday that Hegseth gave a verbal order to leave no survivors in the first U.S. strike, and after it left two survivors in the water, the commander of the operation, Adm. Frank Bradley, ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth's directive, killing the survivors. When asked if Hegseth's original order for the Sept. 2 strike was that everyone be killed and whether that directive came from President Trump, Leavitt told CBS News’ Weijia Jiang, "I saw that quoted in a Washington Post story. I would reject that the secretary of war ever said that.” CBS News has not independently confirmed the Washington Post's reporting.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that there was a follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean earlier this year, but denies that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the order. The Washington Post reported Friday that Hegseth gave a verbal order to leave no survivors in the first U.S. strike, and after it left two survivors in the water, the commander of the operation, Adm. Frank Bradley, ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth's directive, killing the survivors. When asked if Hegseth's original order for the Sept. 2 strike was that everyone be killed and whether that directive came from President Trump, Leavitt told CBS News’ Weijia Jiang, "I saw that quoted in a Washington Post story. I would reject that the secretary of war ever said that.” CBS News has not independently confirmed the Washington Post's reporting.

CBS News

110,533 views • 6 months ago

🚨HOLY SHIT: Karoline Leavitt just officially tossed blame for the second Caribbean strike to Admiral Frank Bradley. She DID NOT deny the facts which means Trump, Hegseth, and Bradley are implicated in murder and a WAR CRIME. This is a stunning admission.

🚨HOLY SHIT: Karoline Leavitt just officially tossed blame for the second Caribbean strike to Admiral Frank Bradley. She DID NOT deny the facts which means Trump, Hegseth, and Bradley are implicated in murder and a WAR CRIME. This is a stunning admission.

CALL TO ACTIVISM

3,409,042 views • 6 months ago

🚨 HOLY SHIT: Karoline Leavitt just tried to deflect blame for the second Caribbean strike and in the process threw Admiral Frank Bradley directly under the bus. She didn’t deny the strike. She didn’t deny the survivors were hit again. She didn’t deny the order. That silence is the tell. This means Trump, Hegseth, and Bradley are now implicated in what military law treats as murder, a clear-cut war crime if the reports are accurate. A stunning, accidental admission from inside the White House.

🚨 HOLY SHIT: Karoline Leavitt just tried to deflect blame for the second Caribbean strike and in the process threw Admiral Frank Bradley directly under the bus. She didn’t deny the strike. She didn’t deny the survivors were hit again. She didn’t deny the order. That silence is the tell. This means Trump, Hegseth, and Bradley are now implicated in what military law treats as murder, a clear-cut war crime if the reports are accurate. A stunning, accidental admission from inside the White House.

Brian Allen

208,999 views • 6 months ago

CNN contributor and former military lawyer Margaret Donovan says both Pete Hegseth and Admiral Bradley are complicit in war crimes after double strike on Venezuelan drug boats. “This is so basic to everybody who has served in the military and who has trained on the law of war and the law of armed conflict that it is a war crime, that it's no surprise that the administration will be trying to shift the blame…If the facts really have played out the way that it is being reported, he absolutely had a duty not to follow an unlawful order if it was Secretary Hegseth's order.” It’s as if they want Pete Hegseth to be guilty.

CNN contributor and former military lawyer Margaret Donovan says both Pete Hegseth and Admiral Bradley are complicit in war crimes after double strike on Venezuelan drug boats. “This is so basic to everybody who has served in the military and who has trained on the law of war and the law of armed conflict that it is a war crime, that it's no surprise that the administration will be trying to shift the blame…If the facts really have played out the way that it is being reported, he absolutely had a duty not to follow an unlawful order if it was Secretary Hegseth's order.” It’s as if they want Pete Hegseth to be guilty.

DeVory Darkins

63,470 views • 6 months ago

BREAKING: Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson just put all of the responsibility of the Caribbean strikes on President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth. "“The Secretary (Hegseth) has been very clear in every statement that we have released about these strikes that they are Presidentially directed and the chain of command functions as it should… At the end of the day, the Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes and any follow-on strikes like those directed by Admiral Bradley, the Secretary 100% agrees with.”

BREAKING: Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson just put all of the responsibility of the Caribbean strikes on President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth. "“The Secretary (Hegseth) has been very clear in every statement that we have released about these strikes that they are Presidentially directed and the chain of command functions as it should… At the end of the day, the Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes and any follow-on strikes like those directed by Admiral Bradley, the Secretary 100% agrees with.”

Ed Krassenstein

660,314 views • 6 months ago

Weijia: Did the administration distribute that SNAP money or defy that court order? Leavitt: No. The administration is fully complying with the court order.

Weijia: Did the administration distribute that SNAP money or defy that court order? Leavitt: No. The administration is fully complying with the court order.

Acyn

281,459 views • 7 months ago

🔴 BREAKING: WH Confirms Second Strike on “Drug Boat” Was Deliberate The Pete Hegseth-led U.S. counter-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific, Operation Southern Spear, included a strike on a boat on September 2, 2025, alleged to be smuggling drugs. According to The Washington Post, the initial strike left survivors clinging to the wreckage. The White House has now confirmed that a second, targeted strike was carried out on the boat, ordered by Admiral Frank M. Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. That second strike, per the Post’s reporting, killed the remaining crew. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Bradley’s decision, saying he acted “well within his authority and the law… to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.”

🔴 BREAKING: WH Confirms Second Strike on “Drug Boat” Was Deliberate The Pete Hegseth-led U.S. counter-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific, Operation Southern Spear, included a strike on a boat on September 2, 2025, alleged to be smuggling drugs. According to The Washington Post, the initial strike left survivors clinging to the wreckage. The White House has now confirmed that a second, targeted strike was carried out on the boat, ordered by Admiral Frank M. Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. That second strike, per the Post’s reporting, killed the remaining crew. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Bradley’s decision, saying he acted “well within his authority and the law… to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.”

Drop Site

154,635 views • 6 months ago

Q: Was the initial order from Hegseth to kill everyone and did that come from President Trump? LEAVITT: I would reject that the secretary of war ever said that. However, the president has made it quite clear that if narcoterrorists are trafficking illegal drugs toward the US he has the authority to kill them

Q: Was the initial order from Hegseth to kill everyone and did that come from President Trump? LEAVITT: I would reject that the secretary of war ever said that. However, the president has made it quite clear that if narcoterrorists are trafficking illegal drugs toward the US he has the authority to kill them

Aaron Rupar

186,650 views • 6 months ago