As the primary Cupboard member to talk, Hegseth doubled down on the Pentagon focusing on alleged drug boats, together with within the case of the boat that the White Home has acknowledged was struck twice.
“As I’ve mentioned and can say once more, we have solely simply begun putting narco-boats and placing narco-terrorists on the backside of the ocean,” Hegseth mentioned. “As a result of they’ve been poisoning the American folks. And Joe Biden tried to method it with child gloves.”
“We’re stopping the medication, we’re putting the boats, we’re defeating narco-terrorists,” he added.
Hegseth additionally mentioned the administration stands by commanders making robust choices.
“As President Trump all the time has our again, we all the time have the backs of our commanders who’re making choices in tough conditions. And we do on this case, and all these strikes. They’re making judgment calls, making certain that they defend the American folks. They’ve finished the proper issues, we’ll maintain doing that, and we’ve their backs, Mr. President,” he mentioned.
Earlier than the Cupboard assembly, Hegseth’s press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, mentioned throughout a briefing on the Pentagon that the president and secretary are in the end those accountable for the strikes.
“On the finish of the day, the secretary and the president are those directing these strikes,” the Pentagon press secretary mentioned. “And any follow-on strikes like these which had been directed by Admiral Bradley, the secretary 100% agrees with.”
