WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday over his shifting explanations of a September military operation in the Caribbean, saying the secretary was either “lying to us” or “incompetent” after initially dismissing reporting about a second strike on survivors of an alleged drug-trafficking boat.
The Washington Post reported last week that U.S. forces conducted two strikes on Sept. 2 after the initial attack left two survivors clinging to debris. According to the report, Hegseth had issued an order to “kill everybody,” prompting Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, to authorize a second strike to sink the damaged vessel. Hegseth responded Friday by accusing the press of spreading “fake news,” but did not directly deny details of the report.
Speaking to reporters, Paul questioned President Trump’s claim that Hegseth had denied involvement. “Do we think there’s any chance that, on Sunday, the secretary of Defense did not know there had been a second strike?” Paul said, calling the situation “outrageous” and urging public accountability.
Hegseth has since distanced himself from the follow-up strike, saying Tuesday he watched the initial attack live but left for other meetings before later learning what occurred. He defended Bradley’s actions, saying the admiral “made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat.”
The Pentagon directed inquiries to Hegseth’s earlier statement, while Paul said the operation raises deeper questions about transparency, rules of engagement, and oversight of lethal force.
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