WATCH: White House confirms 2nd strike on alleged drug boat, says Hegseth didn't give the order

Key Concepts

• Second Strike on Alleged Drug Boat: A reported military action on September 2nd.
• Secretary Hankset (Hagseth): US Secretary of Defense (implied).
• President Trump: US President at the time.
• Admiral Bradley: Military official who authorized the strike.
• Narcoterrorist Groups: Designated foreign terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking.
• Laws of War: International legal framework governing armed conflict.
• Lethal Targeting: The use of deadly force against designated threats.
• Kinetic Strikes: Military actions involving the use of physical force.
• Fentanyl Trafficking: The illegal importation of a highly potent opioid.
• Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Groups designated by the US government as terrorist entities.

Clarification on September 2nd Strike

The transcript addresses a point of confusion regarding a reported second strike on an alleged drug boat on September 2nd. Initially, Secretary Hankset (Hagseth) had denied that the strike occurred, stating that media reports were fabricated and that US operations in the area were lawful.

However, a clarification is provided: the administration does not deny that the second strike happened. Instead, the administration denies that Secretary Hagseth gave the order for the strike.

Authorization and Execution of the Strike

The statement clarifies that President Trump and Secretary Hagseth have established that "presidentially designated narcoterrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war."

Specifically concerning the strikes on September 2nd:

• Secretary Hagseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes.
• Admiral Bradley acted within his authority and the law.
• Admiral Bradley directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.

Rationale for Lethal Strikes

The transcript emphasizes the reasons behind these lethal strikes:

• The administration has designated these narcoterrorists as foreign terrorist organizations.
• The President has the right to eliminate them if they are threatening the United States.
• This includes threats posed by the trafficking of illegal narcotics that are causing a record number of American citizen deaths.

Comparison to Previous Administration

A stark contrast is drawn with the previous administration:

• Under the previous administration, enough fentanyl was trafficked into the country to kill every American man, woman, and child "many times over."
• This administration's policy represents a "drastic difference" compared to the past.

Public Support and Re-election

The transcript suggests that this policy is a significant factor in the American public's decision to re-elect the president and support the Secretary of War in conducting these strikes.

Conclusion

The core takeaway is that while Secretary Hagseth did not personally issue the order for the second strike on September 2nd, he did authorize Admiral Bradley to conduct kinetic strikes against a designated narcoterrorist group. Admiral Bradley acted within his legal authority to eliminate a threat to the United States, a policy justified by the administration's designation of these groups as foreign terrorist organizations and their role in the deadly trafficking of illegal narcotics. This approach is presented as a significant departure from previous administrations and a key reason for public support.