On Sunday, lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties expressed their support for congressional evaluations of military actions taken by President Donald Trump against ships believed to be involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. This follows a report indicating that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had allegedly issued a verbal command to eliminate all crew members during a September 2 operation.
While some Republicans expressed doubts regarding the accuracy of last week’s Washington Post article— which Hegseth labeled as “fake news”— they acknowledged that targeting the survivors of an initial missile assault raises significant legal issues.
“If true, this would constitute a war crime,” stated Democratic Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia.
Hegseth defended the legality of current operations in the Caribbean, asserting that they comply with both U.S. and international law, as well as the laws governing armed conflict, with oversight from top military and civilian legal experts throughout the command structure.
In the meantime, President Trump remarked on Sunday evening that the administration “will examine” the situation, adding, “I wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike.” He also stood by Hegseth.
“Pete stated he did not give the order to kill those two individuals,” Trump remarked. “And I trust him.”
Republican raises concerns over potential ‘illegal act’
When questioned about a follow-up strike directed at individuals who could no longer defend themselves, Republican Representative Mike Turner from Ohio stated that Congress lacks complete information regarding the event. He highlighted that both the House and Senate armed services committees have initiated investigations.
“Clearly, if that took place, it would be a very serious matter and I concur that it would be an unlawful act,” Turner noted.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, left, and Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio are among the lawmakers advocating for congressional evaluations of U.S. military actions against vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)
Turner expressed that there are worries within Congress regarding the strikes on ships that the Trump administration claims are transporting narcotics, but the assertion concerning the September 2 incident “is entirely separate from anything that has been discussed with Congress, and there is an ongoing investigation.”
These remarks from lawmakers come as the administration intensifies its efforts to combat drug trafficking into the United States.
On Saturday, Trump stated that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be deemed “closed in its entirety,” a statement that raised further questions about the U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s administration accused Trump of issuing a “colonial threat” and attempting to undermine the sovereignty of the South American nation.
Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi and chair of the Senate armed services committee, along with its leading Democrat, Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, issued a joint statement late Friday affirming that the committee “will be conducting thorough oversight to ascertain the facts surrounding these events.”
This was followed on Saturday by a joint statement from Republican Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, chair of the House armed services committee, and his Democratic counterpart, Representative Adam Smith from Washington, indicating their commitment to “providing thorough oversight of the Department of Defence’s military actions in the Caribbean.”
“We take the allegations of follow-up strikes on boats purportedly carrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region very seriously and are taking bipartisan measures to ensure a complete understanding of the operation in question,” Rogers and Smith remarked, referring to the U.S. Southern Command.
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Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska remarked that Hegseth should be given an opportunity to share his perspective regarding the September 2 incident.
“We must uncover the truth. I doubt he would be reckless enough to issue a directive to kill everyone, including survivors, as that would violate the laws of war,” Bacon stated. “Thus, I am quite skeptical that he would have taken such an action, as it defies common sense.”
Following the Post’s report, Hegseth asserted on Friday on X that “fake news is propagating more false, incendiary, and slanderous reporting to discredit our remarkable warriors safeguarding the homeland.”
Trump acknowledges conversation with Maduro
Additionally, on Sunday, Trump confirmed that he had a recent discussion with Maduro.
The U.S. government claims that the strikes in the Caribbean target drug cartels, some of which it alleges are under Maduro’s control. Trump is also contemplating conducting strikes on Venezuelan territory.
Trump refrained from elaborating on the specifics of the conversation, which was first reported by the New York Times.
“I wouldn’t characterize it as going well or poorly,” Trump remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about the conversation.
The communications ministry of Venezuela did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Trump’s call.