President Trump's Support for Releasing Video of Second Boat Strike Walks Back Amid Pentagon's Hesitation
In a surprising turn of events, President Trump on Monday clarified that he never voiced support for releasing video footage of the second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. The clarification comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to commit to releasing the Pentagon's footage, sparking concerns among lawmakers.
Earlier last week, the president told reporters that he didn't know what video existed of the subsequent strike but expressed willingness to release it "no problem." However, on Saturday, Hegseth said that the decision to release the footage is up to him, citing a need for responsibility in reviewing sensitive materials.
When confronted about his previous comments during an event in the Cabinet Room, Trump insisted he never made those statements and shifted the blame onto reporters. He stated that whatever Hegseth wants to do regarding releasing the video "is OK with me."
The administration's reluctance to release footage of the strike has added fuel to concerns among lawmakers about survivors' treatment in the Sept. 2 boat attack. The White House confirmed that a second strike was carried out, but claimed it was legal.
The Pentagon has been involved in more than 20 strikes since Sept. 2, killing over 80 people as part of the administration's war on drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Lawmakers are pushing for Congress to withhold part of Hegseth's travel budget until the Pentagon releases unedited footage of the strikes.
Congress is set to brief on the matter during a meeting with Defense officials and lawmakers, but it remains unclear when or if the Pentagon will release the disputed footage.
In a surprising turn of events, President Trump on Monday clarified that he never voiced support for releasing video footage of the second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. The clarification comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to commit to releasing the Pentagon's footage, sparking concerns among lawmakers.
Earlier last week, the president told reporters that he didn't know what video existed of the subsequent strike but expressed willingness to release it "no problem." However, on Saturday, Hegseth said that the decision to release the footage is up to him, citing a need for responsibility in reviewing sensitive materials.
When confronted about his previous comments during an event in the Cabinet Room, Trump insisted he never made those statements and shifted the blame onto reporters. He stated that whatever Hegseth wants to do regarding releasing the video "is OK with me."
The administration's reluctance to release footage of the strike has added fuel to concerns among lawmakers about survivors' treatment in the Sept. 2 boat attack. The White House confirmed that a second strike was carried out, but claimed it was legal.
The Pentagon has been involved in more than 20 strikes since Sept. 2, killing over 80 people as part of the administration's war on drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Lawmakers are pushing for Congress to withhold part of Hegseth's travel budget until the Pentagon releases unedited footage of the strikes.
Congress is set to brief on the matter during a meeting with Defense officials and lawmakers, but it remains unclear when or if the Pentagon will release the disputed footage.
so trump is tryin to cover himself after sayin he'd release that vid but now he's just like "hey i never said that" lol meanwhile paddy hiegseth is all "hold up no we gotta review this first" and now congress is gettin all upset cuz they wanna see what really went down 
the pentagon's got 20+ strikes under their belt already killin over 80 ppl but still they won't spill the tea 
it's like they're tryin to hide somethin 
meanwhile the pentagon is all like "we're good, we'll decide when to release it" 
and lawmakers are all worried 'bout survivors gettin treated right 
. can we just get some truth for once? 
this whole thing is so extra 
and i am here for it! 
. The president's initial statement about releasing the video was just a gentle breeze, but then Hegseth came along and said it was up to him, which is like a sudden gust of air that changed direction entirely 
. It's like we're living in a world where reality is a flexible concept, and what's true today might not be tomorrow 
. The fact that lawmakers are pushing for the Pentagon to release unedited footage just shows how transparent they want this operation to be 
. But at the same time, I wonder if releasing that footage would do more harm than good... would it serve a greater purpose or just stir up more controversy? It's like trying to catch a fish with your bare hands – you might get one, but what about the others that slip away unnoticed 
?
. i mean, one day he says release the video no problem, next day his sec def is like "nope". sounds like a total mess to me 
. but here's the thing - we still don't know for sure what happened on that boat 
. how can we be so quick to trust whatever the pentagon says? need some real proof, not just hearsay or Trump's word for it 
.
anyway, why do we need all this drama? shouldn't be about who's right or wrong, but more about getting justice for those affected by the boat attack 
my concern is the survival of those people and what kinda footage really matters - is it just about proving a point or is it about truth and accountability? 
The fact that the Pentagon is hesitant to release the video of the strike just shows how much power they have in covering up things. I mean, think about all those lives lost on both boats - don't we deserve to know what really happened? 
. I mean, if there was nothing to hide, why can't they just show us what's going on? 
I mean, as a nation, we gotta hold our leaders accountable for what they do, but also make sure we're not rushing into something that could potentially put more lives at risk 
. The Pentagon's hesitation to release the footage is actually kinda smart, you know? They need to be careful with sensitive info, and it's great that Hegseth is prioritizing responsibility over just following orders 
. Fingers crossed that Congress can get to the bottom of this and make sure those responsible are held accountable 
. First he says he's down to share the video, then he says he didn't say that, and now he's blaming reporters? Come on! The whole thing is just confusing. And what's up with the Pentagon not wanting to release the footage? Like, isn't transparency a big deal in any government? 
omg u guys i cant believe what just went down!!! so like president trump was all "release the video" and then he's all "nope didnt say that" lol what a rollercoaster 
anyway its super concerning that the pentagon is being secretive about this and it makes me wonder what they're hiding 
The Pentagon's been involved in all these strikes since September and killed like 80 people... when are we gonna get some answers?