On September 2, the US bombed a boat off the Venezuelan coast that the Department of War (formally Defense) argued was trafficking drugs from Venezuela to the US. However, the Washington Post revealed on November 28 that there were actually two strikes, and that Seal Team Six hit the boat a second time to ensure there would be no survivors.
Not allowing survivors of a targeted action to surrender and be rescued is an international war crime. This revelation by the Post has members of the Trump administration pointing fingers over who is to blame and both houses of Congress calling for formal investigations into possible court martial and impeachments.
The Situation in Venezuela
Tensions between Venezuela and the United States continue to escalate over the drug trade issue across the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The United States has deployed vigorous precautions to fight against drug movement into its borders.
Over the past four months, U.S. forces have carried out at least 22 known strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling. The most recent known strike was on November 15th, resulting in 86 reported deaths.
At the center of this controversy is the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has held the position in the Republican administration since early 2025. During his time, Hegseth has launched the Drone Dominance Program, advocated for a larger defense budget and has faced growing criticism over the strikes across the Caribbean region.
The Allegations Against Hegseth
Hegseth has been under fire from the Pentagon, allegedly giving Navy Admiral Frank Bradley the order to “kill everybody” aboard the vessel of the September 2nd strike. This controversial strike killed 11 drug-smuggling members claimed to be “narco-terrorisits.” (The Hill).
While the strike has generated bipartisan concern, President Donald Trump has publocally supported releasing the video footage of the incident. The Defense Department is still reviewing the material to determine where it’s applicable for public access.
Tom Cotton (chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence) states, “The first strike, the second strike, and the third and the fourth strike on September 2 were entirely lawful and needful and they were exactly what we expect our military commanders to do.”
Many Democrats and even Republicans have shown frustration with the administration for the approval of the strike on September 2nd. Pete Hegseth is known to have approved the first strike of the drug traveling boat, but if there were a second strike on survivors Frank M. Bradley approved this, per Hegseth.
The Social Media Post
On November 30th, Pete Hegseth posted a controversial AI-generated image of the children’s character Franklin the Turtle rebranded as “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” on his personal X social media account. He captioned the post “For your Christmas wish list…”
The Toronto-based publisher behind the Franklin series issued a sharply worded statement condemning the post along with an image of the original Franklin sporting his trademark red neck scarf. “Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
Several Democratic representatives have shared their thoughts on Hegseth’s unprofessional behavior over social media calling him “not a serious person,” or “national embarrassment.” (NPR).
What Needs to Change?
The future of the investigation may hinge on the still-unreleased footage of the September 2nd strike. Whether the video clarifies the events or raises new questions remains unclear. For now, the Pentagon must continue to review the actions taken and military leadership.
Until more information is released, the prospect of easing tension between the United States and Venezuela remains uncertain.
