U.S. President Backtracks On Releasing Caribbean Boat Strike Video

UNITED STATES – President Donald Trump is backing away from earlier comments suggesting he had “no problem” releasing video of a U.S. military strike that killed two survivors on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean.

On Tuesday, Trump said he is deferring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the matter, telling reporters that “whatever Hegseth wants to do is OK with me.”

The shift comes as critics question whether the second strike, ordered 40 minutes after the initial attack, could amount to a war crime. Hegseth has not committed to releasing the footage, citing security concerns, while some lawmakers are pushing for new legislation that would force the Pentagon to make the video public.

The September 2 strike is part of the administration’s broader campaign against drug cartels, which has included more than 20 strikes and resulted in over 80 deaths.