Karoline Leavitt Struggles to Defend Pete Hegseth Over Second Strike Controversy

Pentagon Faces Backlash Over September 2 Strike

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The White House faces heavy criticism after new details about a September 2 airstrike became public. A drone feed showed U.S. forces hitting two survivors who held onto the remains of a destroyed boat. The Washington Post reported that the strike followed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “kill everybody” directive.

The report shocked lawmakers in Washington. GOP-led committees in the House and Senate started deeper investigations. Donald Trump also defended Hegseth, saying he never ordered the death of the two men.

Leavitt Attempts to Shift Responsibility

On Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to distance Hegseth from the second strike. A reporter asked whether the White House denied the strike or only denied Hegseth’s direct involvement. Leavitt replied, “The latter is true.”

She said Hegseth gave Admiral Bradley authority to carry out the mission. Leavitt claimed the admiral acted within his legal powers to eliminate a threat.

Human Rights Groups Condemn the Attacks

Lawmakers from both parties criticized the strikes. Human rights groups raised their voices as well. The U.N. human rights chief said the attacks violated international human rights law.

The White House argued that the targeted boats carried narcotics from Venezuela and Colombia. Many lawmakers doubted this claim. Some vessels were thousands of miles away in international waters. U.S. forces also attacked the boats without investigation or identification.

Rising Tension in Venezuela

The airstrikes have killed at least 83 people. The deaths sparked anger across Venezuela. Large crowds protested and called for action against the United States.

Analysts believe Trump wants to use the attacks to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump attempted a similar move in 2019 but failed.

White House Offers No Clear Answers

Reporters asked Leavitt if the administration knew survivors were in the water after the first strike. Leavitt did not confirm or deny this information. She repeated that Admiral Bradley followed his authority.

When a reporter questioned the “imminent threat” of two men clinging to debris, she gave no direct answer. She told journalists to contact the Department of Defense for more details.